Otto, Rudolf

Date of birth:: December 14th, 1912 (Rauda/Thuringia, Germany)
Date of death:: December 20th, 2006 (Eisenberg/Thuringia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
Unit:: Gruppenführer 6. / Grenadier-Regiment 529, 299.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: May 15th, 1944

During the retreat battles of Army Group South back across the Dnieper, Unteroffizier Otto especially distinguished himself. After his machine gunner and his assistant had fallen, Otto held a position all on his own and thus shielded a bridgehead from Soviet counterattacks. By this action he secured the retreat route for his entire Regiment, although he was himself heavily wounded in the process. For this he would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.