Oberleutnant Bruno Kikillus
Oberleutnant Bruno Kikillus, an east Prussian of Lithuanian extraction, was born September 1, 1914, in Sensburg in the Masurian Lakes region. At the time of this photograph was taken in April 1944, Kikillus was (from early June 1944) Kompaniechef of 17.Pz.Füs.Rgt. Großdeutschland, the Regiment’s Bison-equipped self propelled 15cm heavy infantry gun company. Bruno Kikillus wears the cloth version of the German Cross in Gold he was awarded on January 25, 1944 for his personal gallantry during the winter fighting southwest of Kirovograd. The infantry guns rarely operated as complete companies, usually being assigned to platoon or sections among the infantry and where frequently caught up in close combat, explaining the Nahkampfspange (Close Combat Clasp) on Kikillus’s left breast. As commander of what was in effect a howitzer battery, Oberleutant Kikillus holds an artillery map board and wears powerful Voigtländer 10X50 artillery binoculars around his neck. Already awarded the Wound Badge in Silver, Bruno Kikillus suffered what proved to be a fatal wound outside of Targul Frumos in early June 1944, while his company was in close support of the Panzerfüsiliers. Evacuated to the dressing station, he was transferred to the Division’s field hospital at Roman, where he died on June 12, 1944. He was buried in the adjacent German military cemetery.