Favourite Knights Cross Action

Individual German officers, soldiers and award holders.

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Doktor Krollspell
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Nibelung wrote:I guess Franz Schmitz is not a bad example of a Knights Cross recepient, being the only soldier from a medic unit to recieve one. On 7h July 1943 he recovered 98 wounded soldiers from the battlefield. Franz Kurowski (keep in mind) in his book claims that in total mora that 2000 German soldiers were saved during the course of the war...

Now isn't that hero material?

best,
Nibelung
Hello Nibelung!

There's an older thread dealing with medical personel that received the RK. It lists the names and also with several photographs. Combat medics are very heroic indeed...

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=20535


Regards,

Krollspell
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by larrister »

Hi

I can add photos of several RK holders from my own collection to the RK data base but get this message when I click on a person's name.

Warning: mysql_fetch_array(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/feldgrau/public_html/KnightsCrossHolders2.php on line 12
Sorry, no records were found! Return to Feldgrau

Cheers

Larry
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more..........................

Hubert Brinkforth.

Hubert Brinkforth received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on March 7, 1941 for his performance in the Western campaign, but the act of bravery that led to the award of such a high prize took place, however, some time before. On May 27, 1940, young Gefreite had outdone himself. At Abbeville in France, as a gunner at the 14./ IR 25 (Anti-tank Company), it was the rock against which eleven enemy tanks crashed in just twenty minutes.

Hubert Brinkforth was born on April 15, 1916 in Marl in Westphalia, the son of a miner and farmer. After attending primary school, Brinkforth learned the bakery profession and then volunteered for the military after completing compulsory job service. Here he received extensive training as a tank destroyer and was assigned to a 3.7 cm (Pak) anti-tank weapon. After operations in the Polish campaign, where the company had already proven itself in defense against a Polish attack on the Tucheler Heide, the 25th Infantry Regiment (2. ID Mot) moved to the western border of Germany in early 1940 because England and France had declared war on the German Reich.

With the beginning of the German attack in the west, the Campaign of France (Frankreichfeldzug), special reports of the victorious advance of German troops soon materialized. Private Hubert Brinkforth was also there as a gunner for his Pak since May 10, 1940. After the Polish campaign, he marched to the front a second time. He, like hundreds of thousands of his comrades wearing the feldgrau uniform: was inspired by the absolute will to complete the campaign as quickly and victoriously as possible. At Christmas he wanted to go home to Westphalia.

In the Wehrmacht report of May 28, 1940 it was specified: »Since yesterday morning, the enemy carried out strong attacks against our bridgeheads in Abbeville and Amiens. Despite the support of numerous tanks, the enemy was unable to penetrate our positions. Several French tanks were hit near Amiens. Here alone, the anti-tank gunner Brinkforth, a soldier in an infantry regiment, certainly destroyed nine enemy tanks and left two more out of action. Brinkforth fell as Unteroffizier on June 5, 1942, south of Pogostje at Wolchow in Russia.

Source: In zwanzig Minuten elf Feindpanzer abgeschossen. Hubert Brinkforth war der erste Ritterkreuzträger aus dem Mannschaftsstand. https://deutsche-stimme.de/Ausgaben2004 ... v2004.html (Offline)
Illustrierter Beobachter / Folge 16 Donnerstag, 17. April 1941, 16.Jahrgang

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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The Knight's Cross bearer Obergefreiter Hubert Brinkforth, who with cold determination destroyed 11 enemy tanks in 20 minutes during the fighting in the west, was greeted by the Führer..................
The Knight's Cross bearer Obergefreiter Hubert Brinkforth, who with cold determination destroyed 11 enemy tanks in 20 minutes during the fighting in the west, was greeted by the Führer..................
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more..........................

Hauptmann Wilhelm Pohlmann.

Kampfgruppe Hptm. Pohlmann. A glory sheet of the winter battle. Berlin, March 19th.

The Führer awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to Hauptmann Wilhelm Pohlmann, leader of a combat group in the infantry division "Großdeutschland". Hauptmann Pohlmann distinguished himself in the battles against broken-in, far superior enemies on the middle Don and in fighting back on and over the upper Donets through top-quality and skillful, independent leadership. In a brilliant operation carried out of his own accord, in mid-January he destroyed a Soviet rifle regiment.

In the fighting for Bjelgorod he smashed by counter-attacking himself an enemy superior force that prepared to attack. He thereby kept the route of retreat open for a German combat group. The Pohlmann Combat Group captured or destroyed 48 tanks, 68 anti-tank guns, 312 grenade launchers and machine guns, as well as 150 sleds, took 172 prisoners and destroyed over 1,600 Bolsheviks.

Kampfgruppe Pohlmann (Dec 1942 – Apr 1943): Built from three companies of FBB. Split up while in transit. Reunited again on 19 Jan 1943. From then on served with the main body of the "Großdeutschland" Division until mid March 1943.

Source: https://bibliotekacyfrowa.eu/Content/83 ... 9-0001.pdf
https://www.philipp-militaria.com/onTEA ... 4747-1.jpg

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Hptm. Pohlmann. RK: 14 Mar 1943 as Hptm. in Kampfgruppe Pohlmann (Führer Begleit Battalion).............
Hptm. Pohlmann. RK: 14 Mar 1943 as Hptm. in Kampfgruppe Pohlmann (Führer Begleit Battalion).............
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more..........................

Maj. Fritz Fechner.

As CO III. / Panzer-Regiment 23. Awarded on: October 6th, 1943.

A particular success came on the 11.09.1943. On this day Fechner led a newly assembled armoured group (comprised of the II./Pz.Rgt. 23, elements of the Pz.Rgt. 33, the II./Pz.A.R. 102, the 3./Pz.Pi.Bt. 86 and the I./Pz.Gr.Rgt. 11) out of Podubnyj, advanced through Iwanowka and Fedrowka to the north, and thereafter captured Kamenka and the Meshewaja train station while utilizing the shock effect of a friendly Stuka attack. By this action the supply road for the Soviet 23rd Tank Corps (which had broken through to the west) was blocked. In a further thrust towards Poputnyj the gap between the 6. Armee and 1. Panzer-Armee was almost closed.

Source: https://www.auktionshaus-loesch.de/loes ... 000_2.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/423 ... -Fritz.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; another..........................

Hubert Brinkforth.

Source: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/knigh ... cross.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Hubert Brinkforth (right) after the awarding of the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross. His battalion commander Freiherr von Hardenberg is on the left.................................
Hubert Brinkforth (right) after the awarding of the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross. His battalion commander Freiherr von Hardenberg is on the left.................................
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; another..........................

Karl Roßmann.

On August 2, 1941, as the Battle of Uman came to an end, the encircled Soviet forces attempted a desperate breakout at night. One of the German units on their way, located between Uman and Slatopol near the town of Swerdlikowo, was the Batterie Roßmann along with a handful of infantry, including troops from the SS "Wiking" Division. This small force, under the command of Roßmann himself, was able to withstand all attacks for 14 hours and thus played an important role in ensuring the destruction of the trapped 6th, 12th and elements of the 18th Soviet Armies. For this act he would receive the Knight's Cross.

Source: HERMAN GOERING REGIMENT Photo Album - KNIGHTS CROSS WINNERS. Historical Media, LLC
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/260 ... Joseph.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Karl Roßmann after being decorated with the Knight's Cross......
Karl Roßmann after being decorated with the Knight's Cross......
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more..........................

SS-Unterscharführer Johann “Hans” Thaler - February 6th, 1920 (Breitenbach/North Tirol, Austria) April 7th, 1945 (Vienna, Austria).

Awarded on August 14, 1943 for "During the attack on Teterewino, Grasnoje and Kotschetowka, Thaler drove his tank at high speed towards the enemy. Together with two other tanks, he managed to cut seventeen enemy tanks. Three of them were quickly disabled. Then Thaler's tank received a severe frontal impact, causing severe damage to the throttle and gear shaft. The tank commander knew the damage was paralyzing and announced over the radio that this was the end of the fight for them. Johannes Thaler, however worked on the damaged parts, and using a little improvisation and under extreme physical exertion he got the tank working again. It was during this physical exertion that Thaler suffered damage to his left hand. This left him alone to use. his right hand for all required actions.This was all done under heavy enemy fire.

Once this was done, this tank went on to destroy seven other enemy tanks that were nearby. Thaler remained at the driving controls and maneuvered the tank in the correct position each time, despite the extreme pain he was suffering from the previous injury. He did not stop there and after the destruction of his 10th enemy tank, they recognized an enemy anti-tank position some 100 meters away. They advanced towards this, again in very difficult circumstances in relation to the mechanical state of the tank and the physical state of its driver. They managed to destroy two anti-tank guns and prevented the remaining two from firing, thus eliminating this enemy threat. These additional achievements, not to mention the fact that a disabled tank surrounded by the enemy was an easy target, can be attributed solely to the swift and independent actions of this brave tank driver. It had a decisive result for the company and in total thirty enemy tanks were destroyed, as well as the anti-tank guns. "

Source: https://ritterkreuz1939-1945.tumblr.com ... -mit-hoher
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/359 ... n-Hans.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Johann “Hans” Thaler....................................
Johann “Hans” Thaler....................................
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

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Hello to all :D; a little more..........................

Rudolf Nacke - February 19, 1914 (Dresden) - October 29, 1988 (Höhr-Grenzhausen).

Knight's Cross as Flugzeugführer of the III./ Kampfgeschwader 76, awarded on July 23, 1941, for a total of around 130 sorties carried out. During this time he particularly stood out on a couple of occasions. He participated in a raid on the Rennes railway station, which was packed with trains. More than 500 freight cars were destroyed in the attack.

Source: https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/photos/st ... ostpopular
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/252 ... Rudolf.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Hermann Göring, in front of his rolling headquarters, the 'Asia' special train, near Rostken in East Prussia during the delivery of the Knight's Cross to Stabsfeldwebel Rudolf Nacke; in the background Dr. Erich Gritzbach, Göring Chief of Staff at the Prussian State Ministry (left), and General der Flieger Kastner, Chief of Personalamts at the Reich Ministry of Aviation............
Hermann Göring, in front of his rolling headquarters, the 'Asia' special train, near Rostken in East Prussia during the delivery of the Knight's Cross to Stabsfeldwebel Rudolf Nacke; in the background Dr. Erich Gritzbach, Göring Chief of Staff at the Prussian State Ministry (left), and General der Flieger Kastner, Chief of Personalamts at the Reich Ministry of Aviation............
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more..........................

Springer's bridgehead.

The SS-Hauptsturmführer Springer, with his 3. Company, heard explosions coming from the Don's banks as the Red Army engineers began their work of destruction. Pushing his men forward, Springer managed to reach a point overlooking the river. As evening fell, he found himself looking at a huge railway bridge that was crawling with soldiers and civilians. Through his binoculars, Springer could see that the bridge was already prepared for demolition.

"I had to make a hasty decision," Springer later wrote. “Most of the LSSAH was still engaged in heavy fighting within the city. We saw a train approaching the bridge and I ordered my men to fire at it with all weapons. The engine was hit several times and eventually stopped with steam coming out of several holes. "

The attack caused confusion among civilians and soldiers on the bridge. Taking advantage of this, Springer ordered his company, along with a unit of engineers with him, to cross the structure. Under cover fire from 3. Company, engineers cut the demolition cables as they went. Upon reaching the opposite side, Springer's men captured several Red Army soldiers assigned to guard the bridge.

Establishing a small bridgehead, the assault group fought off various attacks. "They basically isolated us," Springer wrote. "The fighting continued in the city and no reinforcements could be sent." On the morning of the next day, he was ordered to retreat from his bridgehead (exactly why is unknown). The Russians promptly destroyed the bridge once the Germans had left, and Springer was wounded the same day.

Nonetheless his actions at the bridge, though ultimately in vain, in themselves were impressive enough and Springer was given the Knight’s Cross while in the hospital.

Source: https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2018/ ... o-the-don/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/175 ... eopold.htm
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B6E--BCM7yc/ ... inger3.jpg

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Heinrich Adolf Leopold Springer...............................
Heinrich Adolf Leopold Springer...............................
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by Prosper Vandenbroucke »

Hello Raul, hello everybody,
What are you thinking about Walter Koch & Rudolf Witzig for their action on the Belgian fort of Eben-Emael in the morning of the 10th of may 1940?
Walter Koch & Rudolf Witzig Receive Knight’s Crosses from Hitler After Eben Emael / Photo Courtesy MilitaryPhotos.net
Walter Koch & Rudolf Witzig Receive Knight’s Crosses from Hitler After Eben Emael / Photo Courtesy MilitaryPhotos.net
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https://sofrep.com/news/storm-detachmen ... ben-emael/
Kindly regards from Belgium
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; hey Prosper, glad to greet you :up: ..........................

Action on the Belgian fort of Eben-Emael.

A great feat of war indeed. They showed great courage and audacity and not only in their execution but also in their planning. They led a group of determined and well-trained men.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more..........................

Gerhard Hein (July 09, 1916 - June 06, 2008).

Knight's Cross as Zugführer, 10. Kompanie, III. Battalion, Infanterie-Regiment 209, 58. Infanterie-Division by:

During urban combat at St. Evre (a suburb of Toul) on 19/20 June 1940, the battalion's right wing was open and began to receive heavy fire from houses occupied by previously unidentified Allied forces. The battalion suffered significant losses and the entire assault threatened to stall. In response, Unteroffizier Hein took a squad of his platoon on his own initiative, and with this small unit he was able to clear the opponent's houses. He would receive the Knight's Cross for this action on September 3, 1940.

Later, on September 6, 1942, he would receive the Oak Leaves as Leutnant d. Reserve and Führer, 5. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 209, 58. Infanterie-Division.

Source: Einzelkämpfer. Das Weiße im Auge des Feindes. Porträts hochausgezeichneter deutscher Soldaten.
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/390 ... erhard.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Gerhard Hein................................................
Gerhard Hein................................................
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

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Hello to all :D; a little more..........................

Wilhelm Hans Joachim von Malachowski (* June 6, 1914 Rostock + October 28, 1980 Cologne).

Awarded the Knight's Cross on January 30, 1942 as Oberleutnant Chief of the 2. Batterie, Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 189 for:

The battery's contributions from supporting the breaktrough of the XXIII. Armee-Korps at the end of January 1942 in the Rzhev area. In this time, the battery particularly distinguished itself on January 23, 1942 when it destroyed 18 enemy guns 1 km SE of Bachmatowo. He was also recognized for his personal total of enemy tanks and AT guns destroyed so far. At the time of being recommended for the Knight's Cross, he had destroyed a total of 35 enemy tanks since the start of Barbarossa.

Later he received the Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub) on March 6, 1943 as Hauptmann Kommandeur, Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 228 for:

During the battles for Novo-Palovski, Ignatviko and Masloff on January 14, Knight's Cross bearer Hauptmann von Malachowski again distinguished himself. In a separate operation, he led his group, consisting of just seven tank destroyers, two 2cm anti-aircraft guns and 50 foot soldiers, in an attack on Novo-Palovski and captured both locations after heavy combat with enemy tanks, and pressed along Ignatviko's right flank through Massloff's perimeter. His tank destroyers put 18 T-34 tanks and one KV-1 out of action, and Hauptmann von Malachowski personally scored four T-34 tanks and one KV-1.

Source: https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/505 ... ilhelm.htm
https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict ... howski.jpg

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Wilhelm Hans Joachim von Malachowski.............................
Wilhelm Hans Joachim von Malachowski.............................
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Re: Favourite Knights Cross Action

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more..........................

Artur Heinrich "Heinz" Harmel.

Decorated on March 31, 1943 as SS-Obersturmbannführer and Kommandeur, SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment Deutschland / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich". The Knight's Cross recommendation reads as follows...

On the 19.02.1943 the Division received the order to move southwards to Nowomoskowk in order to relieve the weak German garrison there. SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Deutschland’ received the order to attack Pereschtschepino from Otrada and form a bridgehead there. Already during the approach of the Regiment the commander displayed a particularly responsible kind of boldness. Under the personal leadership of the regimental commander did not cease its thrust through the night towards Pereschtschepino.

With this action the ordered bridgehead was created and the task of the Regiment fulfilled. SS-Obersturmbannführer Harmel utilized the momentum from this success, launching an immediate pursuit to the south of the bridgehead in order to expand it while destroying the identified enemy forces in the area. Acting on his own initiative, Harmel led his reinforced Bataillon further south while it was still dark and was able to capture Dimitrijewka-Golubowka after a hard battle.

Thanks to the bold, swift action of the regimental commander, as well as his success in expanding the bridgehead, the Division was able to launch a swift pursuit thrust to the south.

Source: https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/349 ... -Heinz.htm
Der Freiwillige. 11. Jahrgang 1965. 12 Hefte Januar - Dezember 1965

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Heinz Harmel, wearing his Knight's Cross, with SS-Obergruppenführer Hauser...............
Heinz Harmel, wearing his Knight's Cross, with SS-Obergruppenführer Hauser...............
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