Rudler, Oskar

Date of birth:: October 10th, 1921 (Geishausen/Alsace, France)
Date of death:: November 22nd, 2004 (Thann/Alsace, France)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Unit:: Gruppenführer 3./Jäger-Regiment 229
Awarded on:: April 5th, 1945

During the fighting east of the Gran river in early 1945, some elements of the Jäger-Regiment 229 became encircled by the Soviets. Under these circumstances many German soldiers attempted to break out of the trap, among them Gefreiter Rudler. He gathered up any other friendly soldiers he came across and pushed through hostile territory, often being engaged in bitter close combat. Despite this, and in spite of the difficulties involved in traversing mountainous terrain in wintertime, he was able to inflict heavy losses on the Soviets and lead his fellow soldiers to safety. He was in one of the only groups to do this successfully. In recognition of his succeeding in this difficult endeavour, he would receive the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.