serviceyears branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
1934 -- 45 1956 -- 71 heer iii . / gebirgsjäger-regiment 13 koblenz 7 march 1971 halberstadt nazi germany -lrb- to 1945 -rrb- west germany knight 's cross of the iron cross world war ii 9 february 1915 major bundeswehr '' -rrb- -lrb- '' wehrmacht '' -rrb- oberstleutnant -lrb- '' fritz backhauss
 fritz gustav backhauss
fritz backhauss

fritz gustav backhauss -lrb- 9 february 1915 -- 7 march 1971 -rrb- was a highly decorated major in the wehrmacht during world war ii and an oberstleutnant in the bundeswehr .
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 .
fritz backhauss was captured by american troops in may 1945 and was released in june 1945 .
in 1956 he joined the postwar bundeswehr serving until his death on 7 march 1971 in a military hospital in koblenz .
