Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Kommandeur II./Infanterie-Regiment 169

Awarded on:

July 24th, 1941

During the opening days of Barbarossa, an attack by Infanterie-Regiment 169 in the forest near Ruda became bogged down. While leading at the head of his Bataillon, Hauptmann Lutze was able to get the attack going again and he threw back the Soviets with his men. By doing so he opened up the road to Jaworoff for the Division, all while inflicting heavy losses on the defenders in the process. The results of the attack by Lutze’s II./Infanterie-Regiment 169 included two Soviet batteries captured, multiple tanks destroyed in close combat and 1500 prisoners taken. For this action Lutze would receive the Knight’s Cross.