- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Batteriechef I. / Flak-Regiment 231 (motorisiert)
- Awarded on:
- February 4th, 1942
In the winter of 1941-42 Oberleutnant Lotze was in command of a light Flak Kampfgruppe (based around 3 Batterien of 2 cm Flak) during the fighting east of Orel. With this unit he succeeded in breaking open the encirclement ring around a trapped German Infanterie-Division despite the bitter cold. In doing so he would be credited with rescuing the unit, and was for this action decorated with the Knight’s Cross.