Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 14th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Unit:

Vorausbeobachter, 3. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung 17, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

December 17th, 1944

Gottke’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Despite tough and determined resistance, the enemy’s far numerically superior forces nonetheless succeeded in crossing the Blies river to the northwest and southeast of Habkirchen during the fighting on the 13.-14.12.1944. Their goal was to advance along the ridges to the right and left of the gap from Habkirchen to Bebelsheim, taking one patch of forest after another in order to thrust through to the Westwall across more open terrain. The control of Hill 335 (northeast of Habkirchen) was thereby of decisive importance.

The enemy thus launched a battalion-strength attack against the hill on the morning of the 15.12.1944. The attack was supported by 8 tanks deployed along the western edge of Blies-Ebersing. Our own infantry were almost at the end of their rope, and the danger of a breakthrough was therefore very distinct.

One man who was fully conscious of this danger was SS-Unterscharführer Gottke, a forward observer who was directing the fire of the SS-Flak-Abteilung 17 (now employed in the ground role) from an observation post in the vicinity of Point 335. The fate of this enemy attack would depend on whether he could effectively direct his fire against the foe. He succeeded. The effect of his fire was so good that the enemy was forced to fall back to their jump-off position after they had sustained heavy losses.

They repeated their attack at around midday, but were once again repulsed thanks to Gottke’s good fire control. Gottke realized that the enemy would launch a third attack in the afternoon with renewed vigour after they had regrouped their forces and received reinforcements. As he did not have the best field of vision from his current observation post, he made the decision to occupy a different one that offered him a better overview of the battlefield. He worked his way to the village edge of Habkirchen and set up a new observation post there, right in the rear of the enemy, all while undeterred by the risk that the enemy would spot him.

The enemy now attacked with strong forces, and as they did so Gottke brought down the fire of both the Flak-Abteilung and the entire Art.Rgt. 17 onto his own general area despite the risk this posed for his own safety. He conducted himself with bravery and steadfastness as the enemy attack was smashed. When he was finally spotted and engaged by the enemy he did not flee, but rather defended his own observation post.

The result was that this third attack by the enemy battalion was also smashed due to his decisiveness, steadfastness, outstanding bravery and ruthless devotion to duty. With this the enemy’s certain breakthrough was prevented.”