- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberst (Colonel)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 44 / 11.Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- December 14th, 1941
Action:
Awarded for his regiment's breakthrough of the Soviet bunker line at Kirishi (west of Volkhov). There his regiment destroyed 533 (!) enemy bunkers and precipitated the collapse of the Soviet resistance in the area. Wagner, revered as the "Iron Gustav" by his men, was recognized appropriately for this achievement.