Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Grenadier-Regiment 294 / 18. Volks-Grenadier-Division

Awarded on:

December 30th, 1944

Awarded for the leadership of his Regiment during the opening days of the Battle of the Bulge. On the 17.12.1944 elements of his Regiment reached the Our valley near Andler and in doing so enabled the Schnelle Abteilung to capture the Schönberg bridge in an undamaged state. Oberstleutnant Drüke resolved to continue the attack towards St. Vith, and in doing so brought his Division a total breakthrough on this day that resulted in the encirclement of the bulk of the US 106th Infantry Division. On the following day Drüke led his forces towards St. Vith up until reaching the western slope of the Prümerberg, where he was halted by Allied resistance. However by then he had achieved enough of a tactical victory to earn the recognition of his superiors.