Ritterkreuz actions

[Ste]

Good morning.
I want to make a propose to all the members of this forum.Why don't we create a topic where we can write the reason that made every Ritterkreuztrager deserve that decoration?
Give me your opinion. For further explanation,you can ask me when you want.

[W.Vermeer]

Look a very interesting suggestion. We should then agree on what to give.
There are off course the plain reasons and actions, but there are also official "citations". To me most interesting would be the officials discriptions or say the equivalents to the "citations". When not available, a summary discription is also interesting.

[Jan-Hendrik]

Would be more interesting to gather the texts of the official RK proposals

Jan-Hendrik

[Ste]

You're right Jan-Hendrik, the texts of the officials proposals surely will be more interesting,but I don't know how many of them are still avaible today.
My intentions were only to know why someone deserved the RK, so only a description (as precise as possible) could be enough;but,where more information or also original documents are avaible,they're welcome.
Maybe the best way to make it was start with the name of the RKT,rank unit DoD and DoB,the reason,and where avaible a pic or original documents.

[JC]

This is a file copy of the recommendation for the award of the RK to Walter Denkert. It is from his personnel file at NARA and unfortunately not great quality.

[Ste]

Ok,I will start with the first,hoping that someone will follow:

Erich Göstl (17.4.25 - 28.10.90)
Panzergrenadier, RK on 31.10.44

Erich Göstl was a machine gunner of 6th Ko/1 SS Rgt, LAH. In Normandy, while defending the town of Tily, a few kilometers from Caen against an English attack, he was shot in one eye, losing sight from that eye; despite of this wound,he continued to fire with his MG from his machine gun post until he was wounded in the other eye.
Completly blind, he continued to fire from his position, alone because all of his comrade were dead and guided only by hearing,until the enemy attack was repelled.

He was awarded by Albert Frey in a hospital for blind. Erich Göstl was released as POW in April 1946, and with the help of his wife he earned a Law Degree from the University of Vienna.

[Bernd R]

Hi,

sounds like a very good idea ! I agree that the official recommendation would be the best. But why not gathering reports/descriptions of the deed from elsewhere, divisional histories, personal accounts, etc.

Sources for both text and pics should be provided, as always. Summaries from online compilations and evaluations of AHF threads should be named like that.

A Heer Oberst, Pz., and a W-SS Panzergrenadier - looks like an interesting and classical start !

regards, Bernd

[Doktor Krollspell]

Hello Ste et al.

A great idea indeed since many AHF members have a lot of information on the RKT and their award-winning actions. Here's a RKT from the 7. Gebirgs-Division. Entry taken from a similar thread over at Feldgrau. For more information and pictures, just follow the link... http://www.feldgrau.net/forum/viewtopic ... 4&start=60


Karl-Walter Lapp received the RK on 14.08.1944 as a Hauptmann commanding the Ski-Btl. 82 of the 7. Gebirgs-Division. Karl-Walter Lapp received his RK for action against the Russians in Lappland, Finland during the summer of 1944. Here follows the Tagesbefehl from the long time Divisional Commander Generalleutnant August Krakau which describes in detail the award-winning action of Lapp and his men.

TAGESBEFEHL der 7. Geb.Division v. 17.8.44 zur Verleihung des Ritterkreuzes an Lapp, Kdr. Ski-Btl. 82:

"Major Lapp hat mit seinem tapferen Ski-Btl. und den ihm unterstellten Kameraden des SS Schtz.Btl. 6 zwölf Tage von 7 russischen Bataillonen eingeschlossen und auf sich allein gestellt auf dem Luft- und später Wasserwege nur mangelhaft versorgt, im stärksten feindlichen Artillerie- und Granatwerferfeuer die Stellung gehalten, so daß durch diese Tat ein für die ganze Front des Korps entscheidender Erfolg erzielt wurde. Am 7. Juli 44, als der Feind mit 2 Bataillonen von Westen und 1 Bataillon von Osten angriff, gelang den Russen ein Einbruch bis zum Btl-Gefechtsstand. Persönlich mit seinem Adjutanten hat er sich dem Russen entgegengeworfen und die Lage bereinigt. Schwer verwundet, hat er noch 5 Tage bei seinem Bataillon ausgehalten, bis alle Verwundete versorgt waren, und der neue Kampfgruppenführer eingetroffen war.

Krakau Gen.Lt."

Karl-Walter Lapp on 17 November 1944 in Pflerchtal, Süd-Tirol

Private collection

The backside of the above photograph with comment by Karl-Walter Lapp

Private collection

After recieving his wounds, of which one left his face partially paralyzed, the combat experienced Major Lapp received a new assignment in October 1944. He was to be the Basic training and combat instructor for the newly raised Tiroler Standschützen in Ostmark (Austria), basically an Alpiner/Gebirgsjäger Volkssturm that were to defend this part of the Reich, the fabled "Alpenfestung". These units saw little action in April and May 1945 against American units.

There's a very interesting and detailed chapter on the Tiroler Standschützen in Roland Kaltenegger's "Spezialverbände der Gebirgstruppe 1939-1945" (2004), a highly recommended book with many photographs of both the Standschützen and on Karl-Walter Lapp. Many high dignitaries visited Major Lapp and his Tiroler at the training grounds by the Alpini Barracks in Gossensaß. Among others were Generals like Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff, General der Gebirgstruppe Valentin Feuerstein as well as the Gauleiter of Tirol-Vorarlberg Franz Hofer. SS-Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler (as Chef of the Ersatzheer) and SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff were also among the visitors as well as Reichsjugendführer Baldur von Schirach.


Regards,

Krollspell

[Ste]

Eduard Hug (23.9.21-24.2.02)
Obergefreiter, RK on 2.9.44

Hug was a machine gunner in 1/75 Jager Regiment.During the retreat north west from the river Bug Eduard so distinguished himself as to be awarded the EKII, EKI within only two days, the EKII 2 August, EKI 4 August.On 2/9/43 Hug was in his foxhole with his MG42 when his position came under a furious attack;having no clear field of fire Hug was horified when the Machine Gun covering the area fell silent,all his crew killed,so he picked up his MG and ran to the Knocked out MG post.
As he ran he saw 70+ enemy infantryman approaching fast,and when he realized that he would never make in time,he stood where he was,totally exposed and open fire against the enemy,slinging his MG42 by it's strap from his shoulder .Hug was able to stop the attack, set up his MG in tha foxhole and then he stopped another 6 attacks and a seventh when the lights began to fade,but the enemy was getting closer gradually.When they arrive at 30 Metres of his Foxhole hand grenades began to fall around his Foxhole.During this time Eduard had a stoppage and didn't have time to clear it,so he began to throw his grenades:this made the attack falter and gave him time to clear the MG,and so he started to fire with the MG against the enemy who retreated.
More than 60 enemies died in this attack.His divisional commander recommended him for the Knights Cross which he was awarded one year later, on 2 September 1944.

[Marcus]

This is an interesting thread, please feel free to add more information if you have it available.

/Marcus

[Ste]

It's good to know that more people are interested to amply this.
I will start to add new info in the following days, and everyone is invited to write for make it more complete.

See you soon!!

[USAF1986]

The Knight’s Cross recommendation for Gen.d.Inf. Ernst Busch from the Bundesarchiv Koblenz.

Best regards,
Shawn

[luft45]

If someone can translate this, I think this is the action report for the Ritterkreuz for Johannes Gohler, SS - Obersturmfhr; Chef 4./SS. Reit.Rgt.15

God bless from
Russ Brown