- Scarce Postwar Signature of Derk-Elsko Bruins, a Dutch Waffen-SS Volunteer, who earned the Knight’s Cross as SS-Rottenführer and Geschützführer in the1. / SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 54 “Nederland”.
Knight’s Cross awarded for:
On the 26.07.1944 Sturmgeschütz commander SS-Rottenführer Bruins received orders to hold open the way to the west for the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 48, which was encircled between Repniko and the Auwere train station. He would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions on this day. These are described in the following press notice…
“Immediately after the Narva bridgehead was given up our new positions were only occupied in certain places. As such the enemy commenced attacks supported by artillery drumfire and ground attack aircraft to try and exploit this temporary weakness. When 12 enemy tanks appeared before the sector of SS-Rottenführer Bruins’ Sturmgeschütz, Bruins destroyed 5 enemy tanks and forced the rest to pull back. The hard pressed friendly infantry thereby received the opportunity to better entrench themselves. Two days later the Bolsheviks once again launched a major attack with newly brought up forces. SS-Rottenführer Bruins’ Sturmgeschütz once again stood at the hotspots of the offensive and destroyed another 6 tanks. By destroying 11 tanks on these two combat days Bruins had a decisive share in the prevention of the intended enemy breakthrough.” (Source: Traces of War)
