Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

Zugführer 1./Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon 99

Awarded on:

October 3rd, 1942

The following wartime excerpt describes why Krutemeier received the Knight’s Cross…

“Oberfeldwebel Gustav Krutemeier… received the Knight’s Cross on the 03.10.1942 while serving as a Zugführer in a Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon. During an attack against a Soviet bunker line he took over the leadership of a Kampfgruppe on his own initiative. He broke through this position as the first to do so and thereby decisively contributed to the successful combat actions in Lapland that were reported in the Wehrmachtbericht of the 03.08.1942.”

The aforementioned action took place at the start of August 1942. Oberfeldwebel Krutemeier took over command of the Kampfgruppe after its last officer had fallen.