Rudolf Sauerbrei

Rudolf Sauerbrei
Born	18 May 1919 Eisfeld
Died	22 July 2007 (aged 88) Gießen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	?–1945
Rank	Major
Commands held	II./Grenadier-Regiment 405
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of the Netherlands Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Police officer

Rudolf Sauerbrei (18 May 1919 – 22 July 2007) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (17 September 1941)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (24 August 1943)
  • in Silver (14 October 1944)
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (1 August 1943)
  • in Silver (20 April 1944)
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (6 October 1944)
• Infantry Assault Badge (7 August 1941)
• Eastern Front Medal (31 July 1942)
• German Cross in Gold (25 September 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 April 1945 as Hauptmann and commander of II./Grenadier-Regiment 405^[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 302.

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.