▁the ▁German ▁form ations , ▁reaching ▁a ▁point ▁only ▁nine ▁kilom eters ▁from ▁the ▁Me use ▁by ▁ 2 3 ▁December . ▁After wards , ▁L auch ert ' s ▁division ▁fought ▁a ▁continuous ▁re arg u ard ▁action ▁against ▁the ▁US ▁forces ▁as ▁they ▁pushed ▁the ▁division ▁back ▁across ▁the ▁German ▁front ier . ▁During ▁the ▁fighting ▁in ▁February ▁and ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁the ▁division ▁had ▁ceased ▁to ▁exist ▁as ▁much ▁more ▁than ▁a ▁marker ▁on ▁the ▁map . ▁By ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁March , ▁as ▁the ▁rem n ants ▁of ▁his ▁division ▁were ▁back ed ▁up ▁against ▁the ▁Rh ine ▁without ▁a ▁secure ▁crossing ▁point , ▁L auch ert ▁ordered ▁a ▁break out ▁east wards ▁in ▁small ▁groups . ▁L auch ert ▁sw am ▁the ▁Rh ine ▁with ▁a ▁small ▁number ▁of ▁his ▁staff ▁and , ▁apparently ▁fed ▁up ▁with ▁the ▁hop eless ness ▁of ▁the ▁situation , ▁desert ed ▁and ▁walked ▁home ▁to ▁B am berg . ▁After ▁the ▁war , ▁he ▁was ▁imprison ed ▁for ▁trial ▁at ▁N ure m berg ▁for ▁war ▁cr imes , ▁but ▁was ▁found ▁not ▁guilty ▁and ▁released . ▁ ▁Awards ▁▁ ▁Iron ▁Cross ▁( 1 9 3 9 ) ▁ 2 nd ▁Class ▁( 2 2 ▁September ▁ 1 9 3 9 ) ▁& ▁ 1 st ▁Class ▁( 2 3 ▁October ▁ 1 9 3 9 ) ▁ ▁Hon our ▁Roll ▁Cl asp ▁of ▁the ▁Army ▁( 8 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 1 ) ▁ ▁German ▁Cross