Woszella, Gustav (Grenadier-Regiment 208)

Date of birth:: June 8th, 1914 (Dortmund-Marten/Westernphalia, Germany)
Date of death:: June 20th, 2000 (Trier/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Führer, 8.(MG) Kompanie, Grenadier-Regiment 208, 79. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: July 4th, 1944

The following divisional order of the day (dated 12.07.1944) describes why Woszczella received the Knight’s Cross…

“Special Order:

The Führer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht has awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to Leutnant Woszella, leader of the 8./Gren.Rgt. 208.

During the night of the 31.05./01.06.1944, at around 24:00, the Russians penetrated into Stanca with strong infantry and tank forces of their own by launching a surprise strike from the northwest through dense bushy terrain. In response Leutnant Woszella rallied his Kompanie HQ squad as well as 2 mortar crews that he found in the area, and with these men he threw back the enemy infantry via a counterthrust. The old defensive position was reached, and in the process Leutnant Woszella destroyed an enemy tank with a Panzerfaust.

After that he took 2 men and attacked a group of enemy tanks that had broken-through to his Bataillon command post. Here he personally knocked out another 3 enemy tanks via Panzerfausts while also eliminating the dismounted tank crews in close combat. Here he received a shot through the pelvis, however Leutnant Woszella remained with his Kompanie. When the enemy renewed their own attack he went on to destroy a fifth tank with a Panzerfaust.

Leutnant Woszella thus destroyed a total of 5 enemy tanks (Shermans) with Panzerfausts in a 10 hour period.

The outstanding bravery and tough resilience that Leutnant Woszella displayed here (and this despite being wounded) was the crucial factor that enabled the continued holding of Stanca. Without his actions the village’s weak garrison would have been unable to hold the defenses.

Leutnant Woszella’s bravery and decisiveness here has now been recognized through the award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.

I am proud, and alongside the entire Division (which counts a number of officers who likewise hold this high opinion) I must warmly congratulate Leutnant Woszella on receiving this high award for bravery.”