Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer 11. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 431, 131. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 23rd, 1941

The following wartime excerpt describes why Fischer received the Knight’s Cross as follows…

“Leutnant Fischer conducted a series of purposeful actions that not only cut off the retreat of considerable enemy elements still west of the Desna river, but also enabled his Regiment to cross over the river on the same day. This thrust by his Regiment caused the enemy to pull back behind the Wjetma, which in turn triggered the ultimate collapse of the north wing of the Russian 5th Army (which was fighting near Briansk).

Annotation: Near Gomel Fischer and his Kompanie broke through the hostile positions and stormed a howitzer battery. Later, after breaking through enemy positions in the Desna area, he determined that a river crossing existed to the north of his assigned sector. He immediately continued thrusting forward on his own initiative and captured the newly created wooden bridge over the Desna on the 02.10.1941 following bitter close combat.”