Nr. 17.898

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 10th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 6. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Kradschtz.Regiment "Thule", 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'

Awarded on:

April 14th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf"

Awarded on:

October 13th, 1943

Säumenicht’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

"In the morning hours of the 02.09.1943 a Bolshevik attack with numerous tanks was made after the strongest of artillery, gun and mortar preparatory fire. It was directed against the left flank of the SS-Pz.Gren.Div. "Totenkopf." The enemy launched this attack with two Infantry Divisions, supported by aerial attacks and around 130 tanks. Heavy battles followed and the enemy succeeded in breaching this left flank with their massed tank forces.

In this critical situation, SS-Hauptsturmführer Säumenicht with his armoured Kampfgruppe consisting of one Panzer VI, five Panzer IVs and six Panzer Ills, took an independent decision to counterattack. In the bitterest of fighting, he succeeded in pushing the Bolshevik tanks back. Using their own cannons, they fired again and again into the massed Bolshevik infantry ranks. Here, SS-Hauptsturmführer Säumenicht and his Kampfgruppe destroyed 42 Soviet T-34 tanks. SS-Hauptsturmführer Säumenicht and his men, all while displaying exemplary courage and battle readiness and also extremely flexible leadership, only lost two tanks.

The Bolshevik leaders were also led into a trap with the help of a captured enemy radio operator. They sent a message to the supporting Russian 68th Rifle Division, telling them to advance to the point of this breach.

SS-Hauptsturmführer Säumenicht, through this outstanding, brave and circumspect independent decision, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and prevented this Bolshevik breakthrough from succeeding. I please ask for the award of the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross in recognition of this bravery and the results stemming from it."