Alexander Uhlig Dipl . - Ing . Alexander Uhlig was a highly decorated Fallschirmjäger during World War II and recipient of the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross which was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership . Biography . Alexander Uhlig was born near Leipzig on the 9 February 1919 . He completed his schooling by gaining his Leaving Certificate ( Abitur ) in early 1937 . After a period of service with the " Reichsarbeitdienst " , the obligatory two - year period of Military service prevented any continuance of his studies . In Autumn 1937 , Uhlig joined the First Fallschirmjäger Unit . This was to be the forerunner of the Fallschirmjäger Regiment 1 , which was formed in 1938 . With this unit , Uhlig was to see action during the Sudetenland combat and the Occupation of Czechoslovakia . Uhlig remained with the Fallschirmjäger Regiment 1 during the Polish Campaign followed by action in Norway . Following the Airborne action on the 14 April 1940 at Dombas in Central Norway , he found himself in Norwegian captivity for around three weeks with all other survivors of action . On the 14 May 1940 , Uhlig and his Platoon jumped during the First Battle of Narvik and thereafter he was decorated with the Iron Cross Second Class and the Narvik Shield . After the successful conclusion of the Norwegian Campaign , Uhlig transferred to Flying Duties as a navigator and between 1941 and 1943 took part in over 170 operations , including the landings at Crete , for which he was awarded the " Kreta " Cuffband . During this period Uhlig also qualified for the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold and the Iron Cross First Class . In June 1944 , as the invasion of Normandy progressed , Alexander Uhlig was once again in action with a parachute unit . With the rank of " Oberfeldwebel " , he commanded the 16 . / Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6 . In Uhlig ' s sector of the front , Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6 was opposed by the US 90th Infantry Division . Heavy attacks on the Regimental flanks saw Uhlig ordered to lead a small combat group of 30 of the Fallschirmjäger on a mission to attempt to stabilize the Regiment ' s position . Uhlig ' s group took on and defeated an entire US Battalion , taking over 230 prisoners , including the Battalion commander and eleven other officers , this was to be one of the notable successes for the Germans in that sector of the front . In recognition of his tremendous achievement Alexander Uhlig was awarded the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross on the 29 October 1944 . Uhlig was captured shortly afterwards and spent some time in French and US prisoner of war camps . He eventually was moved to Camp 23 in Sudbury , Burton - on - Trent , England . He was considered by the authorities to be a potential escapee and was closely watched . On the 22 April 1947 Uhlig did escape and made his way to Hull where he was able to stow away on a ship bound for Cuxhaven . His escape was initially concealed by the ruse of having a dummy take his place during Roll Call . By the time his escape was discovered 3 days later Uhlig had already reached Germany . He then made his way through the less - strictly controlled US Zone and managed to cross the Russian Lines undetected . By the 28 April , he was home in Leipzig . Upon his return , Uhlig took up his studies again , ten years late , at the Darmstadt University of Technology . Despite unfavourable economic conditions , Uhlig completed his studies and gained his Engineering Degree . He worked for a number of well - known German companies until his retirement just before his 65th birthday . He lived in Essen and was an honorary member of the New Zealand Crete Veterans Association . Alexander Uhlig died on the 1 November 2008 .