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Gsinn, Josef

Date of birth:
April 19th, 1914 (Reicherting/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:
December 20th, 1988 (Mittenwald/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Josef Gsinn finally reached the rank of Leutnant.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Zugführer, 4. Kompanie, Hochgebirgsjäger-Bataillon 3, Heer
Awarded on:
July 20th, 1944
During the fighting near Rome, in the area around Colle Marone, Moroccan troops of the French Expeditionary Corps succeeded in penetrating into the boundary between two German Kompanien with much superior forces. The Kompanie commander of the defending 4./Hochgebirgs-Bataillon 3 fell out due to being wounded. Oberfeldwebel Gsinn, a Zugführer in the same Kompanie, thereafter immediately took over the Kompanie leadership and ejected the French from their newly-won ground. The position was then held until the evening despite the strong artillery fire placed upon it. By then the whole Bataillon was able to move into its new main battle line.

The Allied plan to reach the main road to Frosinone on this day was consequently foiled by the actions of Gsinn and his troops. He would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for this action.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo