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Michael, Georg Roland Burchard

Date of birth:
February 10th, 1917 (Hamburg/Lower Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
January 19th, 1944 (Gehirnchirurgischen Luftwaffen-Sonderlazarett Odessa)
Mentioned on:
German War Cemetery Kirovohrad
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Georg Michael died of his wounds inflicted near Dujoprovka, Nikopol as Kommandeur II. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 with the rank of Rittmeister der Reserve. He was posthumously promoted to Major der Reserve.

His name is being comemmorated on a stone memorial at the German War Cemetery Kirowograd.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 25th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 27th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:
Zugführer, 6. Schwadron, II. Abteilung, Reiter-Regiment 22, Reiter-Brigade 2, 1. Kavallerie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
January 19th, 1941
During the fighting in France Leutnant Michael, leading a reconnaissance patrol, was through his bold and fearless actions able to take an entire Senegalese battalion prisoner without loss. This enemy unit was on track to encounter the rest of Michael’s advancing battalion and without this action would likely have engaged in a long and costly battle with the Germans. For averting such an undesirable state of affairs in such an impressive manner Michael would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:
Führer, II. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26, 24. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
January 25th, 1943
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Michael had already on 26.07.1942 distinguished himself during a night attack on Nishinij Tschirskaja and the large Don bridge there. In a 32-hour long battle he and his Schwadron were able to smash 3 Soviet regiments. For this action he was recommended for the Oakleaves, however this was turned down. The action that would lead to him receiving this award would come later.

Starting on the 20.11.1942 Michael and his II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 were dispatched to the fighting near Gumrak while on loan to the LI. Armeekorps. Here Michael and his Bataillon were able to clean up every Soviet break-in against the north-east blocking position from Spartakowa and the Orlowka sector. Through his skill and bravery he thus contributed significantly to the defense of the northern German perimeter at the Stalingrad pocket.

187th Award.

Sources

Photo