Awarded on:

1936

Awarded on:

1936

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kdr, Grenadier-Regiment 196, 68.Infanterie- Division

Awarded on:

November 1st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 274, 94.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

July 18th, 1944

The following report from 1944 describes why Ewert would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“The Knight’s Cross for Oberst Ewert:

As commander of a Saxonian Infanterie-Regiment, Oberstleutnant (by now promoted to Oberst) Ewert would repeatedly distinguish himself through his bravery during the hard defensive battle at the Gulf of Gaeta from the very first days of the fighting.

But above all there was a particular combat action in which his name must be mentioned, the defensive battle of Perugia.

This city, located at the edge of the Tiber valley, was originally only intended to be defended for one day. However when the wider situation necessitated a multi-day defense, it was Oberstleutnant Ewert who was the soul of the defense by any measure. On the first day of the fighting, the 17.06.1944, he and his troops succeeded in fending off all probes of the enemy from a distance some ways to the south of the city. When the spearhead of an English Armoured Division advanced forwards along almost all the roads into the city on the 18.06.1944, he smashed all enemy attacks by skillfully employing his subordinated artillery and 2 Pak guns. 7 enemy tanks remained destroyed or burning on the battlefield in the aftermath.

The first crisis took place on the evening of the same day. Utilizing the cover of the gathering darkness, and guided by partisans, hostile tanks entered into the southern suburb of the city and threatened to collapse the entire defense. Oberstleutnant Ewert clearly recognized the danger. Acting with lightning speed, he ordered the preprepared barriers to be set up. By using the last reserves he managed to seal off the penetration in the pitch black night.

He commenced a counterthrust early on the 19.06.1944. After destroying several enemy tanks he brought in a few prisoners with important papers. Among these prisoners was a nephew of the English king. The smashing of this particular thrust took place just before the attack of the main enemy forces, which attempted to break into the city from the west and east. Oberstleutnant Ewert was now outflanked on both sides and, to make matters worse, threatened by partisans in the rear. He decided that all forces in the southern part of Perugia were to remain where they stood. He meanwhile decided to subordinate the divisional reserve located north of the city, and with this force he launched a decisive counterthrust. He directed the individual squads from the foremost line and personally guided the fire of the artillery. By swiftly moving around the available anti-tank weapons he mastered this extremely critical situation and saved the right neighbouring regiment from encirclement. The enemy for their part took heed of the defenders after sustaining heavy losses.

The holding of Perugia was of decisive importance for the overall combat situation. It enabled the withdrawal of friendly forces to the next defensive line. Oberstleutnant Ewert had achieved this commendable military performance along a wide front with a small force of only 500 men. For the great and far-reaching victory he brought about, as well as the superb leadership and initiative he displayed in the process, Oberstleutnant Ewert would be awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”