Feller, Fritz

Date of birth:: June 18th, 1916 (Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany)
Date of death:: January 5th, 1945 (southeast of Liepaja, Latvia)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Fritz Feller served as Führer I. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 and as Chef II. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5. He is reported missing in action since January 5th, 1945. He had finally reached the rank of Oberleutnant der Reserve.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Führer 1. / Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 / 12. Panzer-Division
Awarded on:: February 23rd, 1944

On the 01.02.1944 the 12. Panzer-Division began an offensive thrust from the Jugosstitzy area (located 35 km SSE of Luga) with the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 as its spearhead. After capturing the village of Borki on the first day most of the German infantry and Panzers moved on. One of the units that stayed behind was the Regiment’s 1. Kompanie commanded by Leutnant Feller.

On the next day a much larger Soviet force (the 58th Rifle Brigade) launched a surprise attack against Borki. Leutnant Feller commenced a counterthrust of his own with 30 men and 2 Panzer IVs, and with this force he cleared out Borki of the now equally surprised Soviets. More than 200 Soviet dead were counted in the village afterwards.

The brave stand at Borki enabled the continuation and successful conclusion of the Division’s offensive operation. Leutnant Feller would receive the Knight’s Cross in recognition of his achievements here.