serviceyears branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
1914 -- 20 1936 -- 45 heer panzer-artillerie-regiment 155 21 . panzer-division schwäbisch gmünd 12 february 1976 schwäbisch gmünd german to 1920 -rrb- nazi germany empire -lrb- to 1918 -rrb- weimar republic -lrb- knight 's cross of the iron cross world war i world war ii 4 november 1897 oberst alfred bruer
 alfred bruer
alfred bruer

alfred bruer -lrb- 4 november 1897 -- 12 february 1976 -rrb- was a highly decorated oberst in the wehrmacht who briefly commanded the 21 .
panzer-division .
he was also a recipient of the knight 's cross of the iron cross .
the knight 's cross of the iron cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership .
alfred bruer was captured by allied troops following the fall of tunisia in 1943 .
he was released in 1947 .
