Ritterkreuz / Knight's Cross Actions

Discussions on the personalities of the Wehrmacht and of the organizations not covered in the other sections. Hosted by askropp and Frech.
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Heinz Greiner of 268. and 362. Infanterie-Division

#151

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 17 Mar 2023, 07:53

Heinrich "Heinz" Greiner (12 August 1895 - 19 November 1977) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 22 September 1941 as Oberst and Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 499 / 268.Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for distinguishing himself during the defensive battles in the Yelnya pocket in 1941. The regiment he led were responsible for preventing a complete Soviet encirclement in the Yelnya Offensive, during which Greiner, for his stiff, hold-out defense of Wehrmacht forces evacuating the salient, earned the nickname the "Lion of Yelnya" from his soldiers.

Greiner received the Eichenlaub #572 for his Ritterkreuz on 5 September 1944 as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 362. Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for his outstanding command of a Kampfgruppe composed of Heer and Fallschirmjäger troops in the area Velletri—Valmontone (on the Anzio front). His unit repelled a total of 38 Allied attacks on both sides of Velletri through either a successful initial defense or via immediate counterthrusts against hostile penetrations. The Wehrmachtbericht aired on 2 June 1944 mentioned his name as follows: "In diesem Frontabschnitt haben sich die 65. Infanteriedivison unter Generalleutnant Pfeiffer, die durch Teile der 4. Fallschirmjägerdivision verstärkte 3. Panzergrenadierdivision unter Generalmajor Hecker und eine aus Einheiten des Heeres und der Fallschirmtruppe zusammengestellte Kampfgruppe unter Generalleutnant Greiner, hervorragend unterstützt durch Artillerie und durch Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe, besonders ausgezeichnet." (In this section of the front have the 65th Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Pfeiffer, augmented by parts of the 4th Airborne Division which reinforced the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division under Major General Hecker and units from the Army and the parachute troops assembled combat group under Lieutenant General Greiner, well supported by artillery and anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe, particularly distinguished themselves)

Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction- ... CD04AECA6C
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Heinz_Greiner
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/359 ... -Heinz.htm
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Heinz Greiner 1.jpg

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Oberleutnant Karl Hänert of Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland" (mot.)

#152

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 19 Mar 2023, 09:45

Karl Hänert (25 October 1914 - 14 October 1941) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 August 1941 as Oberleutnant and Chef 4.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland" (motorisiert). The medal was awarded for his actions in the fighting for the Yelnya salient. Here he commanded a Kampfgruppe consisting of an MG Kompanie, an infantry Kompanie and elements of other units. His unit held out for six-and-a-half days of bitter combat, in which it held its ground against the attacks of two Soviet divisions. During this time Hänert remained in command of his unit until they were finally relieved despite being wounded once in the arm and twice in the legs during the fighting.

Source :
"Die Ritterkreuzträger des Panzerkorps Großdeutschland" by Ralph Tegethoff
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=270302&sid=bb643a54 ... 73dd946dba
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/792 ... A0Karl.htm
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Karl Hänert Grossdeutschland 1.jpg


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Oberjäger Karl Oberkircher of 7. Gebirgs-Division

#153

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 23 Mar 2023, 22:27

Karl Oberkircher (10 December 1916 - 28 November 1976) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 12 October 1943 as Oberjäger and Gruppenführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218 / 7.Gebirgs-Division. The following newspaper article describes why Oberkircher received the Ritterkreuz:

“Westmärker Receives the Ritterkreuz:

… Oberjäger Karl Oberkircher was born in Oberbexbach (Homburg District) on 10 December 1916 as the son of miner and farmer Jakob Oberkircher. During a friendly attack in the high North he smashed a breach into an enemy bunker position whilst leading at the head of a Gebirgsjäger assault troop. Then, acting on his own initiative, he was able to roll up the position with just 3 other Gebirgsjäger. In the process he and his men eliminated 6 hostile battle positions and thereby enabled the rest of the Kompanie to capture the enemy trench network.”

This attack took place on 8 August 1943, when the reinforced Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218 attacked the so-called “Bunker Backbone”, which was located on a commanding piece of terrain. Oberkircher led an assault troop against the so-called “Sukkula” in the first stage of the attack. After overcoming the mine and wire barriers without loss, he and 4 troops attacked a bunker and knocked it out after a brief fight. At this point Oberkircher was supposed to have attacked the trench network towards the right, however he recognized that such a move would be foolish due to the fact that left-adjacent assault troop was pinned down by heavy opposing fire. He thus left part of his squad to cover the right flank and used the remainder to attack towards the left. He would be duly recognized for this feat.

Source :
Jim Haley photo collection
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/845 ... r-Karl.htm
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Karl Oberkicher 2.jpg

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Unteroffizier Hans Röger of Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland"

#154

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 28 Mar 2023, 22:58

Hans Röger (13 July 1920 - 12 April 2009) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 21 September 1944 as Unteroffizier and Zugführer in 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland" / Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland". The medal was awarded for the following actions:

1) Launching a daring scouting mission during the fighting in Romania in April 1944, where Feldwebel Röger and one of his men dressed up as shepherds and were able to infiltrate the Soviet lines. His cover worked, and he was not only able to gather much valuable intelligence, but also blow up a railway bridge located within Soviet territory.

2) The fighting on 17 August 1944, where the I.Bataillon (gepanzerte) / Panzer-Fusilier Regiment GD was searching for a place to ford the Venta. On this day Unteroffizier Röger was driving with the rest of his Zug headquarters at the tip of the German spearhead towards the town of Kursenai. When they turned around a bend they suddenly found themselves staring right into the barrel of a Soviet 150mm Howitzer. Acting without hesitation, Röger jumped out of his SPW and stormed forward with his MP 40, capturing the gun and its tractor along with the rest of the platoon. After defending against a Soviet counterattack the Germans pressed on, and were able to reach the Venta. Here it was Röger who managed to find a ford across the small stream. By all these actions he was able to contribute significantly to the advance of his Bataillon on this day.

Source :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154669364299
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/389 ... t-Hans.htm
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Hans Röger Knights Cross award ceremony recipient holder.jpg

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Werner Ziegler of 73. Infanterie-Division

#155

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 02 Apr 2023, 09:26

Werner Ziegler (30 April 1916 - 15 April 2001) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 31 December 1941 as Leutnant and Führer 2.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 186 / 73.Infanterie-Division. On 14 August 1941, during the battles between the Dniester and the Bug rivers, Leutnant Ziegler and his Kompanie took the heavily occupied town of Petrovskoye on the western bank of the Bug in a coup d'état and cleared out the surrounding area in bitter house fighting. More than 300 prisoners were captured in the process. Ziegler would be awarded the Ritterkreuz for this action.

Ziegler received the Eichenlaub #121 on 8 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Führer 2.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 186 / 73.Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for his leadership during the urban fighting in Novorossiysk on 6 September 1942.

Ziegler received the Schwerter #102 for his Ritterkreuz on 23 October 1944 as Major and Führer Grenadier-Regiment 186 / 73.Infanterie-Division. Ziegler's Regiment participated in the final battle for Sevastopol in May 1944. On 7 May 1944, during the general Soviet attack against the German V. Armeekorps, his Regiment stood firm in its defensive positions on Windmill Hill, even after it had been surrounded. Ziegler and his men were able to hold their ground successfully until relieved by Kampfgruppen Marienfeld and Faulhaber on the morning of the next day.

Source :
Jim Haley photo collection
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/345 ... Werner.htm
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Werner Ziegler 2.jpg

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Oberstleutnant Jobst-Hilmar Graf von Bose of 98. Infanterie-Division

#156

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 02 Apr 2023, 09:36

Jobst-Hilmar Graf von Bose (21 September 1897 - 26 March 1949) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 December 1941 as Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 289 / 98.Infanterie-Division. The following wartime excerpt describes why Bose was awarded the Ritterkreuz: “Oberstleutnant von Bose made the independent decision to launch a surprise attack against Malachowka in the evening hours, and he succeeded in capturing the village while also creating a breach in the enemy’s flank position. By doing this he spared the Division unnecessary losses, accelerated the fall of the fortifications near Detschino along with the destruction of an infantry regiment and enabled the Division to pursue the enemy forces that fled to the northeast. During this pursuit 16 heavy anti-aircraft guns and numerous weapons fell into the hands of the Division. By doing this Oberstleutnant von Bose achieved an outstanding success for the conduct of the combat in the area, one which can be added to the extremely brave behaviour he demonstrated on two other occasions.”

Source :
viewtopic.php?p=2465823#p2465823
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/253 ... nt-289.htm
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Jobst-Hilmar Graf von Bose.jpg

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Hauptmann Friedrich-Karl Krützmann of 12. Panzer-Division

#157

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 02 Apr 2023, 09:47

Friedrich-Karl Krützmann (19 May 1917 - 16 May 2004) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 3 March 1944 as Hauptmann and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 / 12.Panzer-Division. The following excerpt from the regimental history of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 describes the actions by which Krützmann would be decorated with the Ritterkreuz:

“10. November 1943:

As morning broke at 08:15 a massive drumfire by hundreds of guns commenced, the likes of which the old soldiers hadn’t seen for ages and the young soldiers hadn’t ever encountered. This was the prelude for the large-scale attack by the 1st Belorussian Front against the positions of the German army in the area southeast of Gomel and Retshiza. The Soviets are determined to break the Dnieper Line here, just as they had done on both sides of Kiev a week before. After just a few minutes already the frontline of the combat battalions had a curtain of smoke and dust. In a short time all communication lines are also broken. Only the secondary position of the infantry guns reports in via radio and states at 09:00 that the front is still holding. Then this link was also cut. 15 minutes later the drumfire lets up a little, then moved on and began falling on the second line where our Bataillon command post was situated with full force. At least by then we knew that the enemy attack must have begun. The forward lines had been breached almost everywhere by Russian T-34 tanks and their following infantry. Only Leutnant Eichler with his three 8.8 cm guns and four Panzers could find some breathing space, however he also had to fall back and blow up his guns due to a lack of ammunition during the Soviet 3rd attack wave.

The battle had now reached the hill on which the Bataillon command post lay. Hauptmann Krützmann gave the following situation overview: Enemy tanks already passed us on both sides, enemy infantry still about 200 meters away. Our own Grenadiers are falling back everywhere in small groups. All the staff officers and leaders of the 4. and 9. Kompanie are currently trying to gain an overview of the situation or rally stragglers. There is no news from the neighbours and no more contact with the regimental staff. In the midst of this confusion, in which nothing can be calculated or planned with military precision, only one thing is important: the enemy must not reach the Bear position before our own troops are there and ready to defend!

With this in mind, back in the Bear position Hauptmann Krützmann calmly and precisely issued his orders. He saw to it that all weapons were taken along and no intact vehicle was left behind. In this way, through his personal presence, he prevented his troops from panicking. At the same time numerous skilled commanders from Oberstleutnant Kahler down to every unknown squad leader were able to bring order to the troops. While the Panzergrenadiers still had their noses deep in the dirt the enemy tank spearheads ran into the battle-ready self-propelled Panzerjäger and Wespen, who brought them to an inglorious halt!

Wherever one looked one could see explosions, smashed steel and broken, burning or immobilized T-34s and KV-1s. By the evening the balance read out as 185 enemy tanks destroyed, including 54 from Panzer Gruppe Eicher, 26 from Panzer Gruppe Fehrmann and 14 from the Wespen.

However now it was necessary to prevent the enemy from penetrating into the Bear Position. In the right half of the Bataillon sector Oberleutnant Schmidt, and in the left Oberleutnant Moritz, gathered up everyone who could shoot a weapon. Reinforcing the Kompanien were Flak soldiers, Pioniere and old, gray-haired construction troops. The trenches are occupied more than thinly. On the right contact with the neighbouring division is severed very soon following the disappearance of the Feldgendarmerie unit here. From here stems the next danger, that the enemy will find and exploit this gap in the German defensive line. Hauptmann Krützmann personally assembled a response team together with the task of closing this gap no matter what the cost. This took place following much pluck, daring and many hand grenades.

The above-mentioned construction of the new defensive line did not have too many ‘5ers’. 231 men fell during the events of the last twelve hours alone, dead, missing or wounded.

On the following day Hauptmann Krützmann was the rock in the surf. He led his fleeing Grenadiers back in a counterthrust, taking the positions back and preventing a Soviet breakthrough in the process. On the 11 November 1943 the Panzerjäger destroyed 59 enemy tanks in front of the positions of the I. Bataillon.”

Source :
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Kr%C3%BCt ... drich-Karl
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/106 ... h-Karl.htm
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Friedrich-Karl Krützmann.jpg

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Hauptmann d.R. Ludwig Franz of 25. Panzergrenadier-Division

#158

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 13 May 2023, 19:03

Ludwig Franz received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 8 October 1943 as Hauptmann der Reserve and Führer I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 35 / 25.Panzergrenadier-Division. The following press article (dated 01.11.1943) describes why Franz was awarded the Ritterkreuz: “In the fighting west of Smolensk (which was very costly for the enemy) the Soviets attacked the sector of a Panzergrenadier-Division with a mechanized corps and a rifle division. For a full two days the main force of the enemy attack fell against the sector of Hauptmann Franz’s Panzergrenadier-Bataillon. Yet even amidst the heaviest of enemy fire he was able to maintain contact with his Kompanien and attached weapons from his foxhole. Although the improvised command post was fired upon non-stop by the Soviets, he nonetheless led his Grenadiers through the repeated enemy penetrations from the front and flanks. He personally intervened in the fighting with rifle and hand grenade during hours of close combat in order to defeat the Soviets. After he had been buried alive for a long time in his foxhole by a Soviet tank, and removed only with great difficulty, the Hauptmann continued to lead his Bataillon in further fighting. 45 tanks were already destroyed, and hundreds of dead Red Army soldiers covered the battlefield. However now the enemy succeeded in penetrating through the ranks of the Panzergrenadiers, who had been worn down by the fighting that had gone on for the whole day. The Bataillon commander continued to lead the defense (now partially in the Soviet rear) long enough for a new defensive line to be constructed. The counterthrusts from the old frontline that he led with just a few men enabled the reinforcing of the new positions. Then, with 20 men he collected from various resistance nests, he broke through to friendly lines. This was at at end of 48 hours of heavy combat. The enemy had sustained such high losses during their assault that they no longer had the strength to effectively continue their attacks against the new positions. With this the Bataillon commander had frustrated the far-reaching aims of an entire Soviet shock army.” Note: According to a different newspaper article Franz’s Bataillon was reported as destroying 15 enemy tanks during this battle rather than 45. It is far more likely that this represents the true number of enemy tanks destroyed in Franz’s sector. Thus the report of 45 tanks here is either a mistake or deliberate exaggeration.

Source :
ECPAD Archive (ref.n° DAT 3397 L.06)
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/458 ... ent-35.htm
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Ludwig Franz.jpg

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Oberleutnant Ulrich Gunzert of 258. Infanterie-Division

#159

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 13 May 2023, 19:04

Ulrich Gunzert (8 July 1915 - 12 October 2000) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 December 1941, as Oberleutnant and Chef 3.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 258 / 258.Infanterie-Division. Description: “Received for leading a bold defense against the strong attacking power of a Bolshevik unit. He established a connection with cut off German forces and at this point in the fight the German unit’s has succeeded. Oberleutnant Gunzert was born in 1915 in German East Africa; He received his military training in Upper Bavarian with a Pionier Battalion. In the course of the Russian campaign he destroyed a Bolshevik tank near Grodek with a concentrated charge, and carried out a successful scouting troop operation by making an independent decision to destroy an enemy bunker construction on the Djessna. Later, he also contributed to a flak position being conquered.”

Source :
http://ritterkreuztraeger.blogspot.com/ ... -1915.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/459 ... Ulrich.htm
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Ulrich Gunzert.jpg

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Walter Neitzel of 122. Infanterie-Division

#160

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 16 May 2023, 15:02

Walter Neitzel (9 May 1913 - 2 September 1944) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 2 June 1943 as Hauptmann and Führer I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 409 / 122.Infanterie-Division. At 02:00 on 25 May 1943 the Soviets achieved a penetration in the right sector of the II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 409 (located near Ssemkina Goruschka) with two companies of their own. In response Hauptmann Neitzel (who commanded the right neighbouring Battalion) launched a counterthrust against these forces, and by 07:30 he had managed to deal with this dangerous threat to his flank successfully. In this engagement the Soviets lost 199 counted dead and 33 prisoners, while Neitzel’s counterattack force suffered losses of only 4 wounded troops! Neitzel would be awarded the Ritterkreuz for this action.

Neitzel received the Eichenlaub for his Ritterkreuz on 5 September 1944 as Major and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 409 / 122.Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for his actions during the fighting of the 122. Infanterie-Division south of Riga. On 11 August 1944 the Division was forced to pull its front back to the line Kivioru - 1 km north of Gut Misso. By 15:00 on this day Major Neitzel had managed to break through the Soviet forces blocking his path to the west and stood here with two Kompanien ready for further orders. During the evacuation movements between Reval and Pernau, he was so badly wounded on 26 August 1944 that he succumbed to his injuries on 2 September 1944. The following day, as the 576th soldier in the Wehrmacht, he was awarded the Eichenlaub and posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant.

Source :
http://pantorijn.blogspot.com/2015/02/g ... cross.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/126 ... Walter.htm
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Walter Neitzel.jpg

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Re: Ritterkreuz / Knight's Cross Actions

#161

Post by Ingward » 17 May 2023, 10:33

Photos of excellent quality! Thanks!

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Oberleutnant (Ing.) Erich Zürn of U-48

#162

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 20 May 2023, 19:06

Erich Zürn (23 July 1906 - 9 August 1965) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 April 1941 as Oberleutnant (Ing.) and Leiter-Ingenieur U-48. The following wartime excerpt describes why Zürn received the Ritterkreuz: “Oberleutnant (Ing.) Zürn has participated in many war patrols as the Chief Engineer of U-Boats. In total he has assisted in the sinking of 273.435 GRT of shipping. He had an invaluable share in these great successes due to his prudent conduct of equipment maintenance as well as his calm and decisiveness in dangerous situations.”

Source :
ECPAD Archive
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/649 ... -Erich.htm
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Erich Zürn Zurn Zuern Spanish Cross 5.jpg

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Oberleutnant d.R. Wolfgang von Malotki of 21. Infanterie-Division

#163

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 01 Jun 2023, 00:46

Wolfgang von Malotki (25 February 1921 - 12 July 2002) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 7 March 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 45 / 21.Infanterie-Division. The following newspaper excerpt (dated 10 March 1943) describes why von Malotki was awarded the Ritterkreuz: “Oberleutnant v. Malotki conducted a decisive counterthrust south of Lake Ladoga right as strong enemy forces were trying to roll up friendly positions after they had penetrated the line. He threw the Bolsheviks back at the head of a handful of Grenadiers and brought the main battle line back into friendly hands.”

Source :
Agustin Vazquez photo collection
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/115 ... lfgang.htm
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Malotki, Wolfgang von 3 Agustin Vazquez collection.jpg

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Rudolf Flinzer of 211. Infanterie-Division

#164

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 02 Jun 2023, 08:21

Rudolf Flinzer (9 November 1889 - 17 June 1976) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 6 April 1943 as Oberstleutnant der Reserve and Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 317 / 211.Infanterie-Division. During the fighting for the Orel salient in early 1943, Oberstleutnant Flinzer and his troops fought around Wydrowka, Pustynka, Buda-Monastyrskaja and Kommuna-Bolschewik. Here they distinguished themselves greatly in the defense. In particular, on 22 February 1943 they withstood a major Soviet offensive in the so-called “Hell of Liwadija”. Flinzer would receive the Ritterkreuz for his outstanding leadership during this time.

Flinzer received the Eichenlaub #575 for his Ritterkreuz on 5 September 1944 as Oberst der Reserve and Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 317 / 211.Infanterie-Division. During the first defensive battle of Vitebsk (10-16 November 1943) Oberst Flinzer and his men carried out 10 of their own attacks, repelled 62 major enemy attacks and destroyed 29 tanks. Oberst Flinzer would continue to distinguish himself in the Regiment’s battles in the Pripet marshes, the retreat to the Bug and during the fighting in Eastern Poland (which began on 22 July 1944). During this latter stage of fighting a new defensive line near Sycyna and Styrzyniec (south of the Miedzyrzec-Biala Podlaska road) was held by the Regiment for three days against all hostile attacks, even though the enemy had managed to bypass it to the north and south. Flinzer would receive the Eichenlaub for the sum of his achievements.

Source :
https://alchetron.com/Rudolf-Flinzer
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/447 ... Rudolf.htm
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Flinzer, Rudolf.jpg

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Oberleutnant Arnold von Roon of 7. Flieger-Division

#165

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 09 Jun 2023, 05:47

Arnold von Roon (19 July 1914 - 24 October 1990) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 July 1941 as Oberleutnant and Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 / 7.Flieger-Division. The medal was awarded for the leadership of his company during the battle for Crete in May 1941. With his men he was able to capture a number of important objectives, culminating in the seizure of the all-important Hill 156 from the Allies on 27 May 1941. Later on his Kompanie would play a key role in the final fighting on the island, when on 30 May 1941 he and his Kompanie launched an attack towards the west (near the oil factory) and made contact with friendly Gebirgsjäger.

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... opped).jpg
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/413 ... Arnold.htm
Attachments
Arnold von Roon.jpg

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