- Period:
 - Second World War (1939-1945)
 - Rank:
  - Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
 - Unit:
  - Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 74 / 19.Panzer-Dvision 
 - Awarded on:
  - October 15th, 1942
 
The following press excerpt, dated 20.10.1942, describes why Bruns was awarded the Knight’s Cross…
“During the fighting north of Orel, in the middle of August, Oberstleutnant Gustav-Adolf Bruns thrust through to a cut-off Kampfgruppe following a difficult forest battle. He relieved this unit and prevented the impending breakthrough by strong enemy forces. The former commander of the 19. Panzer-DivIsion, future Oakleaves holder Generalmajor Gustav Schmidt, put him up for the Knight’s Cross.”