Facts: - battles: world war ii - death date: yes 12 august 1998 7 july 1921 - allegiance: nazi germany germany - rank: oberscharfuhrer - awards: knight i class iron cross ii class wound badge eastern front 's medal cross of the iron cross iron cross - birth date: 7 july 1921 - serviceyears: 1931 -- 45 1959 -- 69 - name: heinrich gottke - branch: 23px waffen ss 20px bundeswehr - unit: 17th ss panzergrenadier division '' gotz von berlichingen '' - death place: wolfsburg , germany - birth place: flensburg , germany Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of heinrich gottke .
A:
heinrich gottke -lrb- 7 july 1921 -- 12 august 1998 -rrb- was an oberscharfuhrer 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 .he later served in the new german army , the bundeswehr .