Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 29th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 26th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef 4./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 19

Awarded on:

May 14th, 1944

Awarded for his actions during the breakout battles of the 1. Panzer-Armee at the end of March 1944. During these battles Kreuzinger’s unit was assigned the task of taking the village of Gucztin. Oberleutnant Kreuzinger decided to launch a surprise attack against the village from the west with his depleted Kompanie in order to assail the Soviet positions from the rear.

In hard combat Kreuzinger’s assault troop knocked out multiple AT gun positions, destroyed out a T-34 in close combat and then blocked the Soviet retreat route. The combined weight of these actions put the Soviet garrison into a disorganized retreat and they left behind 6 T-34s (some of which were undamaged), 1 captured German tank, 20 guns (7.62 cm), 10 machine guns, a fuel dump and a large number of dead.

Kreuzinger’s bold action thus paved the way for the further advance of the 19. Panzer-Division along the road to Czortkow. For this, as well as his personally destroying 2 tanks in close combat earlier in the month, he would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 25th, 1944

In the fighting near Warsaw, the Knight's Cross bearer First Lieutenant of the Reserves Kreuzinger, company chief in a Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, repeatedly distinguished himself through extraordinary bravery. He found in this fighting a heroic death.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef 4./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 19

Awarded on:

October 18th, 1944

Awarded for the recapture of the village of Kuznica (located on the Grodno—Bialystok road). The Soviets had taken the village after breaking through the German frontline and advancing about 6 km past it, creating a bridgehead simultaneously. Oberleutnant Kreuzinger recognized the danger and launched a flanking counterattack which succeeded in crushing the whole Soviet bridgehead despite the weather consisting of torrential rain during this time.

625th award