serviceyears branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
1928 -- 45 1956 -- 62 heer sturmgeschütz-abteilung 203 sturmgeschütz-brigade 322 cologne , west germany 9 may 1962 danzig , german empire weimar to 1945 -rrb- west germany republic -lrb- to 1933 -rrb- nazi germany -lrb- knight leaves 's cross of the iron cross with oak world war ii 23 december 1910 major bundeswehr '' -rrb- -lrb- '' wehrmacht '' -rrb- oberst -lrb- '' gerhard behnke
 gerhard behnke
gerhard behnke

gerhard wilhelm behnke -lrb- 23 december 1910 -- 9 may 1962 -rrb- was a highly decorated major in the wehrmacht during world war ii and an oberst in the bundeswehr .
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 oak leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership .
behnke was captured by british troops in may 1945 and was released within the year .
he later joined the bundeswehr and served until his death in 1962 .
