- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Kapitän zur See (Navy Captain)
- Unit:
- Kommodore, Führer, Minensuchboote West
- Awarded on:
- October 21st, 1940
The following press article (dated 23.10.1940) describes why Ruge would receive the Knight’s Cross…
“At the recommendation of the Commander in Chief of the Kriegsmarine, Grand Admiral Raeder, the Führer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht has awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to Kapitän zur See and Kommodore Ruge.
Kapitän zur See and Kommodore Ruge, Commander of the Minesweepers, distinguished himself in a special way during the Polish campaign. He also had an overwhelming share in the swift and thorough establishment of our minesweeper formations and in their uninterrupted and successful operations. During the Norwegian campaign he participated in sweeping and clearing operations, leading units far up north along the Norwegian coast. A Räumbootflottille commanded by Kommodore Ruge was the first German naval formation to pass through the Dover Straits by day. The operating areas of our minesweeping units have since been extended as far as the Spanish coast.”