Hi, I'm curious about what feats of Willy Apitz did in the battlefield so he got the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in 1 January 1944 as a FUNKER in Artillerie-Regiment 81 / 97.Jäger-Division? I believe there's not so many Heer radio operator who received the coveted medal!
Source of the pic: http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/AWARD ... WILLY.html
Unteroffizier Willy Apitz
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AlifRafikKhan
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Unteroffizier Willy Apitz
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Re: Unteroffizier Willy Apitz
Hi. You probably already knew everything, but suddenly not yet:
Willi Apitz before the war he worked as a decorative painter.
After rendering compulsory labor service in the RAD, Apitz joined the Wehrmacht in 1939 receiving military training in Küstrin.
At the end of 1940 he was assigned to the 81st Artillery Regiment, of the 97th Jäger Division based in Munich. After finishing its training, the division marched towards the southern sector of the Russian Front, being integrated into the 1st Panzer Army (later called 17th Army) continuing the advance towards the Caucasus. There he received his baptism of fire. During the fighting in Maikop, Willi Apitz showed his courage on the battlefield, being awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class on 19.09.1942.
On 08.28.1942 he was awarded the winter medal on the Eastern Front 1941-1942.
In the autumn of 1943, after heavy fighting at the Kuban bridgehead, the 97th Hunter Division withdrew to the Kerch Strait on the Crimean peninsula.
From there he moved to the lower Dnieper, between the bridgeheads of Nikopol and Kherson, fighting against the 4th Ukrainian Front.
The 81st Artillery Regiment successfully participates in the defense against the Soviet offensive. Apitz, serving as a radio operator in the 10th Regimental Battery was at a forward observation post. A major Soviet attack then ensued, leaving Apitz overwhelmed by the advancing Soviet troops. Apitz, remained hidden in his post performing observer functions, despite lacking experience in it, and maintaining the radio connection with the artillery fire control center. Despite his dangerous situation, exposed to discovery at any moment, Apitz kept his cool and concentrated on masterfully directing the fire of the German heavy artillery, thereby causing the Soviets to suffer heavy losses.
At one point, the Soviet infantry closed in on their position. He defended himself against the enemy with a rifle, showing great courage and ordered over the radio: "Fire at my position." After repeating the order twice, his stunned comrades opened fire on his position. A curtain of fire, smoke, and explosions rose around them.
By the time the firing ceased and the smoke cleared, the Russians had suffered such losses that they withdrew to their starting positions. The enemy attack was finally completely repulsed.
For this feat, Obergefreiter Willy Apitz was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class on 27.11.1943.
The High Command of the Wehrmacht also appreciated that his action was decisive for the success of the defense against the Soviet offensive and he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross on 01.01.1944, also receiving his promotion to Unteroffizier .
He died on 02.28.2004 in Penzing, Bavaria, Germany.
https://sites.google.com/site/gymdietae ... pitz-willy
Willi Apitz before the war he worked as a decorative painter.
After rendering compulsory labor service in the RAD, Apitz joined the Wehrmacht in 1939 receiving military training in Küstrin.
At the end of 1940 he was assigned to the 81st Artillery Regiment, of the 97th Jäger Division based in Munich. After finishing its training, the division marched towards the southern sector of the Russian Front, being integrated into the 1st Panzer Army (later called 17th Army) continuing the advance towards the Caucasus. There he received his baptism of fire. During the fighting in Maikop, Willi Apitz showed his courage on the battlefield, being awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class on 19.09.1942.
On 08.28.1942 he was awarded the winter medal on the Eastern Front 1941-1942.
In the autumn of 1943, after heavy fighting at the Kuban bridgehead, the 97th Hunter Division withdrew to the Kerch Strait on the Crimean peninsula.
From there he moved to the lower Dnieper, between the bridgeheads of Nikopol and Kherson, fighting against the 4th Ukrainian Front.
The 81st Artillery Regiment successfully participates in the defense against the Soviet offensive. Apitz, serving as a radio operator in the 10th Regimental Battery was at a forward observation post. A major Soviet attack then ensued, leaving Apitz overwhelmed by the advancing Soviet troops. Apitz, remained hidden in his post performing observer functions, despite lacking experience in it, and maintaining the radio connection with the artillery fire control center. Despite his dangerous situation, exposed to discovery at any moment, Apitz kept his cool and concentrated on masterfully directing the fire of the German heavy artillery, thereby causing the Soviets to suffer heavy losses.
At one point, the Soviet infantry closed in on their position. He defended himself against the enemy with a rifle, showing great courage and ordered over the radio: "Fire at my position." After repeating the order twice, his stunned comrades opened fire on his position. A curtain of fire, smoke, and explosions rose around them.
By the time the firing ceased and the smoke cleared, the Russians had suffered such losses that they withdrew to their starting positions. The enemy attack was finally completely repulsed.
For this feat, Obergefreiter Willy Apitz was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class on 27.11.1943.
The High Command of the Wehrmacht also appreciated that his action was decisive for the success of the defense against the Soviet offensive and he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross on 01.01.1944, also receiving his promotion to Unteroffizier .
He died on 02.28.2004 in Penzing, Bavaria, Germany.
https://sites.google.com/site/gymdietae ... pitz-willy
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AlifRafikKhan
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- Joined: 15 Sep 2007, 20:02
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Re: Unteroffizier Willy Apitz
Thank you very much Tankopiy
