Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef 8. / Infanterie-Regiment 44 / 11.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1939

Received during the campaign in Poland.


According to other source the awarding date is 7-10-1939.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef 8. / Infanterie-Regiment 44 / 11.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

July 10th, 1940

Received for action during the campaign in france.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 44 / 11.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

February 25th, 1943

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 44 / 11.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 17th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 44 / 11.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 28th, 1943

Received for excellent achievements on thebattlefield at Tschernischewo, near Leningrad.

1650th Award.

According to other source the awarding date is 5-4-1943.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 44 / 11.Infanterie-Division / L.Armee-Korps / 18.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

March 7th, 1944

On the 25.01.1944 Major Laebe received the order to take the currently available elements of his Bataillon (some 80 men) and move to the small village of Peri. From here he was to cover the retreat route of a German division positioned further north against strong Soviet forces coming from the west. Major Laebe and his small force were able to hold the village for eight hours against a much larger Soviet contingent, and they thereby permitted the orderly withdrawal of other German forces as planned. After this Laebe and his men broke through the Soviet lines and reached the new German frontline successfully. For this act Laebe would receive the Knight’s Cross.

2779th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 44 / 11.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

June 8th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst

Unit:

Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 44 / 11.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

April 20th, 1945

For participating in six battles in Kurland.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 44, 11. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

April 29th, 1945

Laebe’s Oakleaves’ recommendation reads as follows…

“1.) On the 31.10.1944, following a heavy artillery barrage, the enemy achieved a breach in the sector of the right neighbouring Division. This penetration was about 3.5 km wide and had reached a depth of about 4 km by the midday hours. The commander of Grenadier-Regiment 44, Oberstleutnant Laebe, was alerted to the enemy’s capture of Federti and their ongoing advance to Krumi and through Runni in the general direction of Sandarti at around 09:00 (sketch 1).

Oberstleutnant Laebe understood the present threat to the deep right flank of his Division. An advance by the enemy into the forested terrain north of the Tirs swamp would have cut off the Division in its exposed section of frontline.

Although attacks were being presently launched against his own Regiment’s sector, Oberstleutnant Laebe immediately decided to dispatch his sole regimental reserve (a Radfahrzug and a Pionierzug) to the western edge of the forested terrain. As speed was of the essence, he personally deployed these meagre forces in a chain of strongpoints that were located at Pumpuri, Point 34.1 and Point 44.8. As enemy units had already infiltrated into this area, some of these strongpoints had to first be recaptured via counterthrusts. The Kompanie that had been assigned as the boundary guard by the right neighbour pulled back to W.W. Dunikas and thereby prevented a rolling up of the friendly frontline by the enemy.

After Oberstleutnant Laebe had personally investigated the situation at Point 44.8 he proceeded to secure the lines of communication between the strongpoints. He took some men and engaged in close combat with those enemy forces that had infiltrated through the gaps, thereby preventing their further advance from the W.W. Dunikas forest up to the Pumpuri area. Some enemy forces in the forest were destroyed by the mobile group that he led, and prisoners were brought in.

His brave and energetic intervention here was the decisive factor that facilitated the construction of an extended security line as far as Barta by newly brought up alarm groups. Later attacks by the enemy against this line on the same day as well as on the following three days came to naught, and the line furthermore served as the jump-off point for friendly counterthrusts.

Oberstleutnant Laebe was already previously recommended for the Oakleaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross back in November for these actions.

(Chain of command: I. Armee-Korps, A.O.K. 18, Heeresgruppe Nord)

2.) During the Second Battle of Courland (specifically from the 20.11.1944 onwards), Grenadier-Regiment 44 was involved in fierce defensive combat near Gobzemji. At 11:50 on the 24.11.1944 the enemy renewed their attacks against the entire regimental sector with 12 tanks and strong infantry forces. They eventually penetrated through the sector of II./Grenadier-Regiment 44 (which had been badly depleted through the hard fighting of the previous days) up to as far as the Bataillon command post. This penetration threatened to expand into a breakthrough and lead to the disintegration of the Regiment’s defensive front (sketch 2).

Oberstleutnant Laebe personally went forward to the Bataillon command post with the regimental reserve (the Radfahrzug and a few messengers). Close combat was already being waged at the Bataillon command post by the time he arrived. He immediately assailed the much larger enemy force with his soldiers, firing his machine-pistol as he did so. His men, inspired by his bravery and determination, fought just as fiercely. After a short but furious fight the enemy was either destroyed or driven off, and the old frontline was restored. All further attacks by the Bolsheviks were shattered.

The intervention on the ground by Oberstleutnant Laebe was decisive in this critical situation, especially since the Bataillon commander had become wounded in the fighting. His unyielding resolve and exemplary dedication to duty were the qualities that resulted in the closure of the frontline gap and the prevention of the enemy’s intended breakthrough towards the Schrunden—Frauenburg road.

(Chain of command: X. Armee-Korps, A.O.K. 18, Heeresgruppe Nord)

3.) On the first day of the Fifth Battle of Courland (20.02.1945) Grenadier-Regiment 44 was dispatched from reserve status to a hostile penetration in the Vartaja area (sketch 3). The enemy had already captured the crucial positions of Hill 103.5 and 98.8, however the Regiment retook these in a vigorous counterattack and went on to defend the sector against additional enemy attacks. These would be launched by up to three divisions at once and were well supported by ground attack aircraft, assault guns and artillery of all types.

Utilizing this materiel advantage to best effect, the enemy continued their attacks on the 21.02.1945. During the midday hours of this day (around 13:30) the enemy achieved a penetration in the sector of the right adjacent unit at Springeni. They pushed through this gap and advanced through the forests towards the northeast in the direction of Hill 77.9 and Balozi. Grenadier-Regiment 44 was itself able to hold its ground against unceasing enemy attacks against its own front during this time, although heavy losses were sustained.

In this critical situation, and despite the ongoing enemy frontal attacks, Oberst Laebe decided to counter this threat to his deep flank with his last reserves (namely 2 squads of the Radfahrzug and a few soldiers from the regimental staff). The Division had no infantry reserves available at the time. Personally leading these meagre forces, he first went towards Point 77.9. He and his men then built up a line of resistance whilst under heavy enemy artillery, anti-tank gun and mortar fire from those enemy forces that had already advanced into the forested terrain south of Balozi. Contact with the right neighbour was also established.

With the knowledge that their commander was with them in the foremost line, the widely separated combat outposts succeeded in repulsing the enemy attacks that were launched into the deep flank of the Division. This in turn prevented the rolling up of Grenadier-Regiment 44’s front, the Regiment being cut off from the rear and an expansion of the penetration into a breakthrough towards the Libau—Frauenburg road. Although the enemy continued to pour additional forces into the breach, Oberst Laebe held his line while inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. He did this until the Division finally succeeded in transferring Grenadier-Regiment 2 from its previous area of operations and into position for a deliberate counterattack. Thus, despite the very difficult conditions, Oberst Laebe had delivered critical results for the continuation of the Division’s operations.

The powerful influence of this commander’s force of personality in all crisis situations enabled the Regiment to get through many hard battle days. It has also gained him the trust of all the soldiers from the Regiment.

(Chain of command: I. Armee-Korps, A.O.K. 18, Heeresgruppe Courland)

4.) Just before the beginning of the Sixth Battle of Courland, on the night of the 16./17.03.1945, Grenadier-Regiment 44 was ordered to take over the frontline sector south of Balosi. However this takeover of the front was not completed during the night, and it was still ongoing when the Bolsheviks attacked at 11:00. Grenadier-Regiment 44 once again found itself in the hotspot of combat against an enemy far superior in men and materiel (namely 2 Guards rifle divisions of the 10th Guards Army). However, under the leadership of its commander, it managed to swiftly take up resistance along the line Jegles—Dambji—Maeenieki and contain the enemy tank and infantry spearheads.

The fighting was still bitter, and already on the first day the regimental command post (located just behind the new frontline) became the scene of close quarter combat. Yet enemy penetrations and advances in this forested terrain were repeatedly eliminated. Oberst Laebe, who personally defended himself with close combat weapons, was able to maintain contact with his Bataillonen in a display of unshakeable calm (sketch 4).

Over the course of the day the enemy achieved a deep penetration along the Armee boundary in the direction of Grebutnieki. This meant that the Regiment found itself with a deep open flank. Then, at 01:45 on the 18.03.1945, the enemy broke into the sector of I. Bataillon with tanks. Now the left flank was also exposed, and the divisional front was in the process of collapse. Enemy groups from the east attacked the regimental and Bataillon command posts in the rear.

Though the situation appeared just about hopeless, it was once again Oberst Laebe who led the way to a resolution. He took 20 men of his Radfahrzug and crushed the enemy forces in the rear before turning his attention to the penetration in the sector of I. Bataillon. Utilizing Sturmgeschützen that appeared at the last moment, the breach was eliminated following multiple hours of close combat and contact with the right neighbour was once again restored. Although his men perceived a danger of encirclement during this time, he repeatedly inspired them to a state of extraordinary determination and endurance. The enemy left behind over 100 dead. Several prisoners and numerous weapons were also captured. The commander’s personal bravery on this day was, once again, outstanding. The initial successes of the enemy breakthrough were thereby brought to nought, and their continued advance in the subsequent days of battle was prevented.

(Chain of command: II. Armee-Korps, A.O.K. 18, Heeresgruppe Courland)

Summary:

Oberst Laebe and his Regiment have played a crucial role in the defensive achievements of the Division during the battles in Courland. In addition to the bravery of its soldiers, the Regiment has the outstanding personality of its young commander to thank for its successes. His ability to project his will upon his troops in all situations was amazing.

The Division therefore holds Oberst Laebe as being completely and utterly worthy of this high award.”


854th Award.
His nomination was prepared for signature by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) by the end of the war. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR) the award was present in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date is an assumption of the AKCR. Laebe was a member of the OdR.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 1st, 1942