Ritterkreuz / Knight's Cross Actions

[AlifRafikKhan]

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

[AlifRafikKhan]

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

[AlifRafikKhan]

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

[AlifRafikKhan]

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