Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

7./Grenadier-Regiment 390 / 215. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

December 10th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Sergeant)

Unit:

7./Grenadier-Regiment 390 / 215. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

May 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Sergeant)

Unit:

7./Grenadier-Regiment 390 / 215. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

September 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Sergeant)

Unit:

7./Grenadier-Regiment 390 / 215. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

November 30th, 1942

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Zugführer 7./Grenadier-Regiment 390 / 215. Infanterie-Division / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1944

On the 02.08.1944 the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 390 was tasked with recapturing the city of Birsen (which had been captured by the Soviets on the preceding night). To fulfill this mission it was assigned 4 Sturmgeschütze from the Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 227 in support. The Germans first came under fire upon reaching the edge of the city, however with the support of the Sturmgeschütze they managed to slowly make their way towards the railway station. However the Kompanie then came under fire from the wall of a churchyard, and a number of soldiers became casualties.

In this situation Hans Henkenschuh took over leadership of the Kompanie. He ordered some of the Sturmgeschütze to drive up to the wall, which was crushed along with a number of Soviet machine-guns. The Germans then continued their advance through the city. A Soviet anti-tank gun that had been brought up was destroyed before it could fire its first round. Eventually the Germans reached the city’s western edge and cleared out the remaining defenders before transitioning over to the defense themselves. 2 captured Soviet anti-tank guns and 1 captured howitzer were used to bolster the defense.

Henkenschuh and his men would succeed in defeating a Soviet counterattack on the following day, and by doing so they enabled other units of the Division and Korps to pull back in an orderly fashion and create a new defensive line. The Kompanie itself pulled back behind the Memele river on the following night. Henkenschuh would receive the Knight’s Cross for his victorious actions at Birsen.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)