Rudolf Geisler

Rudolf Geisler
Born	29 March 1911 Hennersdorf near Reichenbach, Silesia
Died	13 April 1944 (aged 33) Kovel, Ukraine
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1930–43
Rank	Oberstleutnant (posthumous)
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Rudolf Geisler (29 March 1911 – 13 April 1944) was a Oberstleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, awarded by Nazi Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Geisler was severely wounded in action on 11 April 1944 in Kovel. He succumbed to his injuries at the field hospital at Kovel on 13 April 1944, the same day he was awarded the Oak Leaves.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (30 September 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (13 August 1941)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 3 June 1943 as Major in Pionier-Bataillon 662^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 7 December 1943 as Major and commander of Pionier-Bataillon 662^[3]
  • 455th Oak Leaves on 13 April 1944 as Major and commander of Pionier-Bataillon 662^[4]

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1997, p. 193.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 133.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 193.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 81, 479.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Scherzer, Veit (2010). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil XI: Pioniertruppe—Band 1: A–K (in German). Bissendorf, Germany: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2398-4.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.