Rocholl, Rolf
- Date of birth:
- December 8th, 1918 (Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany)
- Date of death:
- August 23rd, 1943 (Isjum/Ukrain, Soviet Union)
- Nationality:
- German (1933-1945, Third Reich)
Biography
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Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Panzer-Regiment 5, 21. Panzer-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- March 25th, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Führer, 2. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, 5. Panzer-Regiment, 21. Panzer-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- July 28th, 1942
In response Rocholl immediately redirected his forces to capture this position, which they succeeded in doing after a hard fight. Through this it was possible for the Division to block the Via Balbia road and thus complete the encirclement of the Gazala line. For his actions Oberleutnant Rocholl would receive the Knight’s Cross.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Hauptmann (Captain)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 569, 328. Infanterie-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- August 31st, 1943
The following newspaper excerpt describes why Rocholl received the Oakleaves…
“In August 1943 Hauptmann Rocholl and his Grenadier-Bataillon were locked in bitter defensive combat along the Donez. The fighting was particularly fierce around a commanding hill position. The actions of the brave young Bataillon commander here were crucial for the holding of these positions, which in turn prevented the Bolsheviks’ intended breakthrough in this sector. However the commander himself was fatally wounded in this time. His heroic courage has now finally received the highest recognition through the awarding of the Oakleaves to the Knight’s Cross.”
Rocholl met his end on the 23.08.1943, when he was shot twice in the chest and fatally wounded while leading a counterattack.
287th Award.
Awarded posthumously.
“In August 1943 Hauptmann Rocholl and his Grenadier-Bataillon were locked in bitter defensive combat along the Donez. The fighting was particularly fierce around a commanding hill position. The actions of the brave young Bataillon commander here were crucial for the holding of these positions, which in turn prevented the Bolsheviks’ intended breakthrough in this sector. However the commander himself was fatally wounded in this time. His heroic courage has now finally received the highest recognition through the awarding of the Oakleaves to the Knight’s Cross.”
Rocholl met his end on the 23.08.1943, when he was shot twice in the chest and fatally wounded while leading a counterattack.
287th Award.
Awarded posthumously.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- November 11th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- October 16th, 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer collection
- - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- KUROWSKI, F., Knight's Cross Holders of the Afrikakorps, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen, United States, 1996.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
Photo
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