Kranz, Rudolf

StuG III Sturmgeschütz

Date of birth:: December 27th, 1911 (Zarben/Pommerania, Germany)
Date of death:: October 22nd, 1979 (Rheinbach/Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
December 1st, 1937: Leutnant;
?: Oberleutnant;
?: Hauptmann;
?: Major.

Career:
?: Artillerie-Regiment 32;
?: Adjutant II. / Artillerie-Regiment 68;
?: Führer Sturmgeschüts-Brigade 249;
October 1944 - January 1st, 1945: Kommandeur, Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 249;
November 8th, 1944 - March 4th, 1945: Kommandeur Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 236;
1956: Bundeswehr;
1959: Kommandeur Panzer-Bataillon 14;
1963: BMVg, Bonn.

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Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:: Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 249, III. Panzerkorps, Heer
Awarded on:: May 28th, 1944

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: Kommandeur, Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 249, XIII. Armeekorps, Heer
Awarded on:: October 23rd, 1944

Awarded for the successes of his Sturmgeschütz-Brigade in support of German and Hungarian infantry formations during the defensive battles for the passes in the Bieszczady region. The Axis managed to prevent an enemy breakthrough into Slovakia, while inflicting losses of 442 tanks in this sector during four weeks of fighting. Kranz and his Sturmgeschütze contributed significantly to this outcome.