Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 9th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 29th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

I. / Infanterie-Regiment 171

Awarded on:

August 21st, 1942

Award 165/44.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer I. / Infanterie-Regiment 171 / 56.Infanterie-Division / XXXV.Armee-Korps / 2.Panzer-Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

September 24th, 1942

Awarded for his achievements during August 1942. In this time Hauptmann Eidel personally led his Bataillon in its attack on the village of Muschkan, being one of the first men to enter the village with rifle in hand. He then made the independent decision to carry on beyond his attack objective. He once again led his men in an attack against a commanding hill, which was taken and thereafter held against strong Soviet counterattacks.

1204th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 171 / 56.Infanterie-Division / 4.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

August 24th, 1943

During the defensive battle near Orel a Soviet force supported by tanks succeeded in breaking through into the deep flank of Grenadier-Regiment 171 on the 13.07.1943. The Soviet armour rolled along behind the front between the command post of the I./Gr.Rgt. 171 and the regimental command post (located in Golowinskij). Under these conditions I. Bataillon had to refuse its right wing in order to guard its own flank. For his part Major Eidel gathered up the remnants of Grenadier-Regiment 192 and organized a new resistance line along the line Woskresensk—Gorodilowo. From here he was able to prevent an enemy breakthrough.

He would later receive the Knight’s Cross for his actions during this time. The following press article provides a few additional comments on the fighting here…

“Already on the 14.07.1943 Eidel held a cornerstone of the German frontline in a bitter struggle against much larger enemy forces, and continued to do so until most of the other friendly forces had occupied a new defensive line. Two days later the enemy once again entered into our infantry’s position with two fresh rifle regiments. Without waiting for orders, Major Eidel launched a bold counterthrust with a small and hastily assembled infantry force, and was able to bring the far numerically superior Soviets to a halt.”

283rd Award.