alcius wrote: ↑05 Oct 2022, 12:11
I'll put you some aces from the Pz.Abt.116
Wow, nice find this is. Found this article too, now. The last sentence of this article also gives particulars as to the dates of the 100th, 200th and 300th tank kill of Pz.Abt. 116, very nice.
And, here they are:
Lt. Hans-Karl Bunzel
Fights around 31.1.1944, he than had 48 tank kills according to the newspaper. On 17.12.1944 he had his 55. tank kill (according to the recommendation for the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold). So to say I have some doubts as of his own claim of 95 tank kills up to war's end. Oblt. Bunzel was using Panther tanks with I./Pz.Rgt. 16 in the final months of war, but he had "just" 55 tank kills to his credit up to 17.12.1944, so he needs another 40 in less than fife months. Would be possible on the Eastern front against the big sowjet offensive pushes in 1945, but on the Western front? You know, that the allied tankers avoided unnecessary engagements, German tank vs. tank success in the West in 1944/45 was ..., well, I estimate it 1:1, not really impressive.
Uffz. Julius Stellenberger
He got the EK 1 on 31.1.1944 while serving with 3./Pz.Abt. 116, the same company as Lt. Bunzel (maybe the same Zug?).
Uffz. Fritz Rostan
He also got the EK 1 on 31.1.1944, also serving with 3./Pz.Abt. 116.
Rudolf Schroeder (Oberfeldwebel, later Leutnant)
He was a Oberfeldwebel and "Hauptfeldwebel-Diensttuer" with 4./Pz.Abt. 116 and got the EK 1 the same day he had this big success, 24.8.1943. In January 1944 he was promoted to Leutnant and went on to serve with I./Pz.Rgt. 16 (Panther).
Oliver