Adolf Raegener – Infanterie-Regiment 309 & Verteidigungsbereich Magdeburg (RK for Antwerp ’40) (Eichenlaub)

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Adolf Raegener. Generalleutnant Adolf Raegener (17.02.1895 in Kleinleinungen † 17.08.1983 in Braunschweig) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on June 25, 1940 as Oberstleutnant und Kommandeur of Infanterie-Regiment 309 of the 208. Infanterie-Division and the Eichenlaub on April 17, 1945 as Generalleutnant und Kommandant of Verteidigungsbereich Magdeburg.

Ritterkreuz: “Oberstleutnant Raegener achieving outstanding feats of arms near Antwerp as a result of the fearless devotion to duty that he displayed under enemy fire. His unstoppable forward drive was an invaluable factor that led to the swift capture of the city and fort of Antwerp. This in turn majorly facilitated the subsequent operations against the Belgians.”

Eichenlaub: “Awarded for his untiring devotion to duty during the defense of Magdeburg in early 1945. Despite having suffered very severe wounds earlier in the war (one leg amputated and the other badly mutilated) he nonetheless was able to ensure that countless refugees were able to escape over the Elbe river to the comparative safety of Western allied captivity.”