Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kompanieführer Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 92

Awarded on:

September 2nd, 1944

Awarded for actions in the battle for Bobruisk during the Soviet Operation Bagration. The Germans had deployed a Kampfgruppe of the 20. Panzer-Division consisting of a Panzer Kompanie and a Pionier-Kompanie (the latter under Leutnant Schade) to buttress the city’s defenses. On the second day of the assault the Germans were hard pressed to hold their ground, and the Soviets succeeded in breaking-in at the railway embankment. Leutnant Schade observed that his neighbour, an alarm unit, was retreating. On his own initiative he decided to take matters into his own hands, and with a Zug from his Kompanie he launched a counterattack which succeeded in pushing the Soviets back and sealing off the break-in. In the course of this engagement a handful of Panzers and Sturmgeschützen who had been supporting him managed to knock out 10-12 enemy tanks.

For the bravery and fighting spirit demonstrated here Leutnant Schade would receive the Knight’s Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)