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Kutschkau, Ernst

Date of birth:
November 23rd, 1910 (Saalfled/East Prussia, Germany)
Date of death:
February 4th, 1947 (Chatelineau/Henegouwen, Belgium)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Lommel
Plot: 58. Grave: 260.
Nationality:
German

Biography

Ernst Kutschkau died as Belgian Prisoner of War.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 3rd, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 11th, 1944
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 18th, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Führer 6. / Grenadier-Regiment 3 / 21.Infanterie-Division / XXVIII.Armee-Korps / 18.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:
April 16th, 1944
On the 17.03.1944 the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 3 was in a blocking position north of Pskov, specifically Hill 35.8 (which lay northeast of Abisha). Oberfeldwebel Kutschkau defended this sector with his troops against all Soviet penetration attempts, and by doing this he prevented the loss of the whole position held by both the Regiment and Division as a whole. For this action he would receive the Knight’s Cross.

2980th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel der Reserve (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Führer 6. / Grenadier-Regiment 3 / 21.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
March 9th, 1945
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Führer 6. / Grenadier-Regiment 3 / 21.Infanterie-Division / XX.Armee-Korps / 4.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:
March 11th, 1945
In the first days of January 1945 the Grenadier-Regiment 3 was deployed in the Rominte position between Goldap and Gumbinnen. The village of Daken was the lynchpin of II. Bataillon. At this time the Soviets managed to penetrate into the southern entrance to the village, and threatened to achieve a breakthrough. Oberfeldwebel Kutschkau was sent in as a reserve along with the Regimental Pionierzug and tasked with leading the counterthrust. Despite heavy Soviet defensive fire, bolstered by the addition of reinforcements, Kutschkau was able to put his great talents to good use and retake the old German defensive positions. For this he would be awarded the Oakleaves.

777th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel d.R. (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Kompanieführer 6. / Grenadier-Regiment 3
Nahkampfspange in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
Unit:
3. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 3, 21. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
December 5th, 1941
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 3, 21. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
August 1st, 1943
Nahkampfspange in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 3, 21. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
May 15th, 1944
Nahkampfspange in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 3, 21. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
November 20th, 1943

Recieved for a wound inflicted on the 12th of November 1943.
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Sources

  • Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
  • Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  • - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
    - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
    - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
    - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
    - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
    - Dörr M., Die träger der Nahkampfspange in Gold, Heer- Luftwaffe- Waffen-SS 1943-1945, Biblio Verlag Bisendorf, 2006.

Photo