Ortwin Kuske

Ortwin Kuske
Born	3 February 1921 Militsch, Schlesien
Died	19 February 1972 (1972-02-20) (aged 51) Westerholt, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1940–45
Rank	Hauptsturmführer
Unit	17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Close Combat Clasp in Bronze Infantry Assault Badge Wound Badge

Ortwin Kuske (3 February 1921 – 19 February 1972) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) 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.

Ortwin Kuske was born in Militsch in Schlesien. During World War II he volunteered for the Waffen SS. He was awarded the Knight's Cross while a Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant), in command of the 3rd Company, 17th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion together with an attached Heer unit. It stopped a US armoured advance dead in its tracks whilst 17th SS GvB was involved in defending Metz. Metz subsequently fell to the US forces on 22 November 1944 and Kuske was awarded his Knights Cross for "Outstanding bravery and leadership". Testimony to the savagery of this particular event was that 80% of Kuske's battlegroup was killed or wounded. Kuske survived the war and died of cancer on 19 February 1972 in Westerholt.

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 November 1944 as SS-Untersturmführer and leader of the 3./SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 17 "Götz von Berlichingen"