Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 16th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 13th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 18th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 17th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

stellvertretender Zugführer, 3. Kompanie, SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

May 4th, 1944

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

“At around 04:30 on the 02.02.1944 a Russian infantry battalion (reinforced by infantry guns and AT guns) attacked our strongpoint-like security line west of Burty, and broke through it about 1200 metres west of the village. At the same time, at 05:00, they succeeded in penetrating the line with a group attacking from the south. The enemy firmly established themselves in a block of houses just to the west of Burty.

At the time SS-Unterscharführer Fischer, acting Zugführer in the 3./SS-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 5, was on standby in the northwestern part of Burty with 2 self-propelled Pak. At 04:45 he received orders from the Abteilung to secure the western edge of the village. While marching to the ordered position he saw that the enemy had already occupied the housing block next to the railway embankment, and furthermore that an enemy group in about company-strength was advancing northwest of the village so as to block the road to Wjasowog.

On his own initiative he attacked this latter group with his two self-propelled Pak, and destroyed the bulk of it in a bold attack despite hostile flanking fire from the west. In a steady, shoot and scoot firefight on the western edge of Burty, Fischer was able to prevent the advance of strong enemy forces from the forest northwest of Burty long enemy for friendly infantry to commence a counterthrust at 07:00.

As no time could be wasted, Fischer now drove into an attack on his own initiative so as to eject the enemy forces from the housing block beside the railway embankment. Despite the enemy anti-tank rifle/anti-tank gun fire he galvanized the friendly infantry forwards through his own bold behaviour, and himself was able to prevent the arrival of enemy reinforcements along the railway line following a great expenditure of effort. A broken-off enemy group that tried to pull back towards Point 205.0 (1.5 km southwest of Burty) was destroyed by the well-aimed fire of Fischer’s self-propelled Pak.

The holding of Burty was decisive for ensuring the smooth evacuation of the city of Gorodischtsche.

Thanks to the personal initiative of SS-Unterscharführer Fischer the enemy failed to:

1. Roll up Burty from the west.
2. Thrust north of Burty and block the road to Wjasowog.
3. Send in strong follow-up forces located in the woods northwest of Burty.

During the course of the fighting SS-Unterscharführer Fischer captured:

2 infantry guns with their prime movers
1 anti-tank gun (4.7 cm) with its prime mover

and destroyed:

1 heavy anti-tank gun (7.62 cm)
6 anti-tank rifles and
A large number of infantry weapons.

SS-Unterscharführer Fischer has particularly distinguished himself during the Eastern campaign through exceptional bravery. He has so far destroyed 14 enemy tanks.

Awards:

Iron Cross Second Class, awarded on the 16.05.1942
Iron Cross First Class, awarded on the 18.03.1943
Assault Badge, awarded on the 09.05.1943
Eastern Medal, awarded on the 13.09.1943

The Abteilung holds SS-Unterscharführer Fischer as worthy of bearing the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 7th, 1945