Rudolf Geisler

Rudolf Geisler (29 March 1911 – 13 April 1944) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade the Oak Leaves was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Rudolf Geisler was severely wounded in defense of Kovel on 11 April 1944 by an artillery round while detaching from the front. He succumbed to his injury, a splinter wound in the pelvis, 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)
 * 1st Class (13 August 1941)
 * German Cross in Gold (3 June 1943)
 * 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
 * 455th Oak Leaves on 13 April 1944 as Major and commander of Pionier-Bataillon 662