Kreitmair, Rudolf

Date of birth:: May 3rd, 1914 (Rochlitz, Germany)
Date of death:: September 28th, 1943 (Woroshdenije, USSR)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: 7./Infanterie-Regiment 282
Awarded on:: October 7th, 1942

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
Unit:: Führer 7./Grenadier-Regiment 282
Awarded on:: March 31st, 1943

The following excerpt describes the action by which Kreitmair would receive the Knight’s Cross…

“South of Vyazma the enemy attempted to pursue the retreating German troops with strong forces and take the new German positions before they could be occupied. The crucial point of this new defensive front was at a sector which comprised a village lying atop of a hill, which had a commanding view of the area. Massed on a narrow front, the Soviets managed to occupy the village with strong infantry forces and numerous tanks.

Kreitmair, commander of a Frankish Grenadier-Kompanie, knew full well the importances of the village and the consequences which would ensue along a large part of the German defensive line if it was truly lost. He needed no command to immediately attempt to recapture it.

In bitter hand grenade duels, with his Grenadiers far ahead, Kreitmair and his men worked their way forwards against the overwhelming enemy and were able to wrest control of the all-important eastern edge of the village. Naturally the Bolsheviks would not tolerate this setback. Constant new enemy infantry attack waves supported by tanks rolled against the Kompanie, which unwaveringly held onto its newly won ground the whole day and the following night.

The next morning however a new enemy attack forced the Grenadiers back from the eastern edge of the village. Oberleutnant Kreitmair did not hesitate for a moment. He pressed forward with his Kompanie (whose men were exhausted from the previous fighting) once again in a new attack. Storming ahead of his Grenadiers, he threw the Bolsheviks out of the eastern edge of the village for the second time after bitter fighting. With this he finally removed the possibility of an enemy breakthrough at this decisive point for good.”