- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Führer, StabsKompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21, 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg", II. SS-Panzer-Korps, Heeresgruppe B
- Awarded on:
- August 23rd, 1944
Reiter’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…
“I ask that the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross be awarded to SS-Untersturmführer Hans Reiter (born on the 20.04.1920 in Feldkirchen) for his deeds during the fighting in Normandy. An enemy attack on the morning of the 16.07.1944, one preceded by strong artillery fire and supported by flamethrowers, led to a penetration in the sector of the Kompanie adjacent to Reiter’s section of frontline. However Reiter held his position, rallied the nearby infantry elements and set up an all-round defensive position. In the midday and afternoon hours of the same day he busted open the enemy encirclement ring on his own initiative and established contact with friendly troops.
During this combat he destroyed the following enemy materiel with his Kompanie:
3 medium tanks (a Churchill and two Shermans)
2 armoured AT gun prime movers
7 ammunition carriers
2 medium trucks
2 heavy anti-tank guns (presumably of the 7.6 cm caliber)
Moreover a force of forward moving Allied infantry (in strength of at least 3 companies) were skillfully engaged with combined HE shell and machine gun fire from the flank that smashed the majority of the Allied force and caused the remainder to flee. Untersturmführer-Reiter's courage, skill, and personal leadership negated the planned regimental counterattack for the relief of Kompanie ‘Reiter’. Instead, the already prepared forces reestablished the main line of battle in the eastern sector of the Bataillon ‘Bastian’. Directly and indirectly, Reiter helped both the Regiment and the Division maintain control of the decisive Hill 112.
Reiter is fully worthy of the high honour of receiving the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”
based on a recommendation dated 18.07.1944 and signed by Rgt. Kdr. Dr. Eduard Deisenhofer; endorsed by Div. Kdr. Heinz Harmel, 28.07.1944; approved by Korps Kom. Gen. Willi Bittrich