Derk-Elsko Bruins

Derk Elsko Bruins (1923–1986) was an Oberscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He 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.

Early life
Derk Elsko Bruins was born on the 20 March 1923, in Vlagtwedde in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands.

World War II
In 1941, he volunteered to join the Waffen SS and was posted to the 1st Company, SS Panzerjäger Battalion 54 SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Nederland and trained as a Panzerjäger. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on the 23 August 1944, for the destruction of twelve tanks in the Battle of Narva.

At the end of July the 23rd SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nederland had been forced to withdraw to a new front line. During the withdrawal, the SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 48, had been left behind. On the morning on 27 July Bruins platoon was ordered to try to locate the missing Regiment believed to have been cut off about ten kilometers away.

Setting out with three assault guns he located a Soviet tank patrol and in the small battle two of his assault guns were put out of action and two Soviet tanks destroyed. Not wanting to advance further by himself he located a position he could watch out for the missing regiment. Shortly afterwards, he observed some Soviet tanks approaching, he engaged the approaching tanks and destroyed five T-34s and disabled another. Running short on ammunition, he decided to return to the German lines. On the way back he engaged and destroyed a further five tanks.

Post war
At the end of the war, Bruins was captured by a Canadian Army unit and handed over to the Dutch authorities. He was held in a Dutch prison from which he soon escaped and fled to Germany. In 1950, he married a German girl and was given German citizenship. This made it impossible for the Dutch authorities to pursue him and stopped trying to get him returned to the Netherlands in 1955. Bruins became a successful businessman and kept in contact with his former comrades, until his death on the 5 February 1986, in Gerolstein Germany.