Ortwin Kuske

Ortwin Kuske
Born	3 February 1921 Militsch, Schlesien
Died	19 February 1972 (1972-02-20) (aged 51) Westerholt, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1940–1945
Rank	Hauptsturmführer
Unit	17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Close Combat Clasp in Bronze Infantry Assault Badge Wound Badge

Ortwin Kuske (3 February 1921 – 19 February 1972) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II. Who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Ortwin Kuske was born in Militsch in Schlesien. During World War II he volunteered for the Waffen SS. He was awarded the Knight's Cross while a Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant), in command of the 3rd Company, 17th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion together with an attached Heer unit. It stopped a US armoured advance dead in its tracks whilst 17th SS GvB was involved in defending Metz. Metz subsequently fell to the US forces on 22 November 1944 and Kuske was awarded his Knights Cross for "Outstanding bravery and leadership". Testimony to the savagery of this particular event was that 8O% of Kuske's battlegroup was killed or wounded. Kuske survived the war and died of cancer on 19 February 1972 in Westerholt. ^[1][2]

References

1. ^ "ss.polizei". Archived from the original on 2009-10-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20091028181126/http://geocities.com/~orion47/SS-POLIZEI/SS-Hstuf_I-L.html. 
2. ^ "axis.history.factbook". http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1727. 

Further reading

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Mitcham, Jr.Samuel, Retreat to the Reich, Stackpole books 2007. ISBN 081173384X
• Henschler Henri & Fay Will, Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 0811729052
• Mitcham Samuel, The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45,Stackpole Books, 2007. ISBN 0811733718

Persondata
Name	Kuske, Ortwin
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	3 February 1921
Place of birth	Militsch, Schlesien
Date of death	19 February 1972
Place of death	Westerholt, Germany