Rudolf von Bünau (father)

Rudolf von Bünau (19 August 1890 – 14 January 1962) was a German general who commanded several Corps 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, with Oak Leaves, were awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership). At the Enns River, in Austria, von Bünau surrendered to Major General Stanley Eric Reinhart's 261st Infantry Regiment. He was released in April 1947.

His son, also named Rudolf von Bünau, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 August 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 9 (9th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion). He was killed in action just one week later on 15 August 1943 south of Roslavl and posthumously promoted to Major. His other son, Oberleutnant Günther von Bünau, a recipient of the German Cross in Gold, was also killed in action in 1943.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1914)
 * 2nd Class (9 September 1914)
 * 1st Class (14 November 1914)
 * Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (15 January 1935)
 * Sudetenland Medal (1 November 1939)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (17 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (26 September 1939)
 * Eastern Front Medal (1 August 1942)
 * Crimea Shield (15 September 1942)
 * Kuban Shield (1 October 1944)
 * Order of Michael the Brave 3rd Class (19 March 1943)
 * German Cross in Gold (23 January 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 15 August 1940 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 133
 * 766th Oak Leaves on 5 March 1945 as General der Infanterie and commander of XI.Armeekorps