A watan Nuwambar 1943 ya dauki umurnin 2nd Mountain Division. Wannan ya yi aiki a kan Arctic da
Yankin yamma, inda Degen ya ji rauni sosai, ya yi ritaya daga sashen a watan Fabrairun 1945. A watan Maris na 1945 an ba shi lambar yabo ta Knight's Cross na Iron Cross don jagorancin sashin.