Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Artillerie-Regiment 4, 4. SS-Polizei-Division

Awarded on:

September 30th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Awarded on:

1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Artillerie-Regiment 4, 4. SS-Polizei-Division

Awarded on:

September 22nd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Awarded on:

August 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer / Major der Schutzpolizei

Unit:

Führer, SS-Artillerie-Regiment 54, 23. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nederland" (niederl. Nr. 1)

Awarded on:

August 23rd, 1944

Schlüter’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“The withdrawal movement of Brigade Nederland from the bridgehead at Narva and the subsequent occupation of the Tannenberg line was made extraordinarily difficult by the pursuit of the enemy with strong infantry and tank forces.

The fact that the Brigade managed to do so while repelling all heavy enemy attacks (inflicting bloody casualties in the process) was primarily due to the efforts of Sturmbannführer Schlüter and his outstandingly led Artillerie-Regiment 54.

Under very difficult conditions and strong enemy fire interference, he succeeded in bringing all his Batterien from the clutches of the enemy without any guns being lost. From their new positions they were then able to intervene decisively in the defensive battle. As the last to come through, he led his regimental staff through the road that had already been blocked by infantry elements of the pursuing enemy.

In order not to lose his grasp of successful artillery fire direction due to the constantly disrupted communication links, he went from one hot spot of fighting to the next without any regard for his own safety. By doing so he ensured that he always had a clear overview of the situation.

On his own initiative he constantly directed such heavy artillery strikes against enemy tank and infantry assembly areas that the intended hostile attacks often did not take place at all. By this he contributed significantly towards the relief of the heavily weakened and hard pressed friendly infantry.

Schlüter and his Regiment have the greatest share in this successful defensive battle of the Brigade, and they made a major contribution towards the prevention of the enemy’s intended breakthrough here.”