Leutnant Otto Carius s.Pz.Abt.502

[Hans N]

Hi all!

Why did Otto Carius get his Knightcross and later the oakleafs?

regards

Hans N

[Wolfkin]

Hey Hans!

I believe Otto Carius won these awards for bravery in the face of the enemy as well as boldness in the attack. They were well deserved as Carius is one of the most underrated Panzer Aces.

See these links:

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen4.htm


http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/rktest2.php?wert1=847



Cheers,

Wolfkin

[Sigurd Helge]

Regarding "underrated" German tank aces.
Probably the most underrated of all: Kurt Knispel of s.Pz.Abt. 503 with an excess of 160 tank kills.
Never got the RK...
Knispel, in total tank kills, by far exceeding both Wittmann and Carius.

Regards,

~Sigurd

[lennardg]

We had a few postings about Kurt Knispel some months ago, one poster had even asked veterans of the S.Pz.Abt. 503 about Knispel, but no one could explain why he never got the RK, and he was KIA on April 29 1945 !, but he did get the German cross, a mystery...

[Dale]

Ah yes...
Knispel. His comrades do not have an explanation for his not receiving the KC based on his accomplishments. They shared a feeling of security when Knispel was covering their backs. He was promised and submitted for the KC on several occasions.
Best explanations I heard (from the vets)... he did not necessarily "toe the line" of military rules, etc. and the Heer units were often overlooked as compared to the Waffen SS units for combat awards.

[Hans N]

Thanks for your help, Wolfkin

/Hans

[teddy]

Here is an interesting history of Otto Cariius' career on the Russian Front

http://www.paulstiger1.co.uk/Biographie ... Carius.doc

[Mansal D]

A good book to check out would be "Tigers in the Mud" by Otto Carius himself. If you're interested in the man and his wartime service that is a great one.

Plus, Panzerkampfgruppe Strachwitz has a foreward written by him. I think that would be a good one to read also.