March 1918) Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 Wehrmacht Long Service Award 2nd to 4th class (2 October 1936) German Olympic Games Decoration 2nd class (21 December 1936) Sudetenland Medal Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class (17 September 1939) 1st Class (2 October 1939) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 October 1940 as Kapitän zur See and commodore leader of the Minensuchboote West Minesweeper War Badge (15 February 1940) Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Legion of Merit, Commanders Cross (1961) Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (28 September 1961) References Citations Bibliography External links The Citadel Archives: Friedrich Ruge Collection Bundesarchiv: www.argus.bundesarchiv.de 1894 births 1985 deaths Sportspeople from Leipzig Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Vice admirals of the Kriegsmarine Bundesmarine admirals Foreign recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom Imperial German Navy personnel of World War I Reichsmarine personnel People from the Kingdom of Saxony Naval Historical Team members Himmerod meeting participants Vice admirals of the German Navy Chiefs of Navy (Germany) German military writers Military personnel from Leipzig