Helmut Bruck

Helmut Bruck
Born	16 February 1913 Kittlitztreben
Died	Veitlahm
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1935–45
Rank	Oberst
Commands held	StG 77 SG 77 SG 151
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Britain Invasion of Yugoslavia Battle of Greece Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Moscow Third Battle of Kharkov Battle of Kursk Lower Dnieper Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Police officer Forester

Helmut Bruck (16 February 1913 – 25 August 2001) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients 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. During his career he flew 973 missions.

Awards and decorations

• Aviator badge
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "900"
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (13 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (21 May 1940)
• German Cross in Gold on 20 October 1942 as Hauptmann in the I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 4 September 1941 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän in the 1./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
  • 193rd Oak Leaves on 19 February 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (3 May 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
3 May 1944	Das Schlachtgeschwader 77 unter Führung des Kommodore Eichenlaubträger Oberstleutnant Bruck hat sich bei den Kämpfen an der Ostfront besonders bewährt.	The Close Air Support Wing 77 under the command of Commodore and Oak Leaves bearer Lieutenant Colonel Bruck has particularly proven itself in combat on the Eastern Front.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com

Military offices
Preceded by Major Walter Enneccerus	Commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 20 February 1943 – 18 October 1943	Succeeded by Unit reorganized as Schlachtgeschwader 77
Preceded by Previously Sturzkampfgeschwader 77	Commander of Schlachtgeschwader 77 18 October 1943 – 16 February 1945	Succeeded by Oberstleutnant Manfred Mossinger
Preceded by Oberst Karl Christ	Commander of Schlachtgeschwader 151 7 December 1944 – 1 April 1945	Succeeded by Major Karl Henze