Date of birth:

August 19th, 1890 (Stuttgart/Württemberg, Germany)

Date of death:

January 14th, 1962 (Kirchheim an der Teck/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Rudolf von Bünau was the father to Rudolf von Bünau

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 15th, 1935

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 9th September 1914.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 5th, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 14th November 1914.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 1st, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 133 / 45.Infanterie-Division / 2.Armee

Awarded on:

August 15th, 1940

The following wartime excerpt describes why Bünau was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“During the crossing over the Aisne river and canal on the 09.06.1940 it was Infanterie-Regiment 133 which, despite heavy losses, made the farthest southernmost advance of all units within the Korps. Through this it established the preconditions for the crossing of the rest of the Division and the creation of a bridge. This great success is first and foremost creditable to its brave commander, Oberst von Bünau, who provided a model of battlefield conduct for the whole Regiment. Bünau led the crossing over the Aisne from the foremost line with the main Bataillon, and he was personally involved in the battle to clear the bush covered island between the Aisne and the Canal with grenade in hand.”
206th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 15th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant

Unit:

Kommandeur 73.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

January 23rd, 1943

Award 280/1.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 19th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 19th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1944

On war ribbon, with swords and star.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)

Unit:

Kommandierende General XI.Armeekorps / 17.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

March 5th, 1945

The following wartime excerpt describes why Bünau was awarded the Oakleaves to his Knight’s Cross…

“On the 05.03.1945 the Führer awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to General der Infanterie Rudolf von Bünau, commanding general of an Armee-Korps, as the 766th soldier of the German Wehrmacht to be so honoured.

During the combat for the upper Silesian industrial area the Soviets achieved a deep penetration in the front of the Armee-Korps led by General von Bünau. The commanding general launched successful counterattacks that managed to hold off the enemy long enough until he had created the preconditions for the withdrawal of his forces that were still in the industrial region and the creation of a new frontline to the southwest of this area. In 14 days the Soviets lost 129 tanks, 73 guns and over 4000 dead in the sector of Korps Bünau.”
766th Award.

• Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993.
  - 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