Claus Breger

Claus Breger
Born	25 December 1910 Pinnow
Died	Aachen
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1928–44
Rank	Major (Posthumously)
Commands held	I./Füsilier-Regiment 27
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Siege of Leningrad Demyansk Pocket Battle of Aachen Battle of the Bulge
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Claus Breger (25 December 1910 – 17 December 1944) 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 with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Claus Breger was wounded on 16 December 1944 and died the next day in Aachen, Germany. He was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 14 January 1945 and was also promoted Major.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (31 October 1939)
  • 1st Class (27 May 1940)
• Infantry Assault Badge (1 July 1940)
• Demyansk Shield
• Eastern Front Medal (29 July 1942)
• German Cross in Gold on 16 February 1942 as Stabsfeldwebel in the 1./Infanterie-Regiment 27
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 4 September 1942 as Stabsfeldwebel and Zugführer (platoon leader) in 1./Infanterie-Regiment 27
  • 700th Oak Leaves on 14 January 1945 as Hauptmann and commander of I./Füsilier-Regiment 27

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• World War 2 Awards.com