- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
- Unit:
- Zugführer 2. / Grenadier-Regiment 467
- Awarded on:
- September 10th, 1943
The following newspaper excerpt (dated 17.09.1943) describes why Schwabenberger was awarded the Knight’s Cross…
“The Knight’s Cross for a Feldwebel from the Upper Danube:
The Führer has awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to Feldwebel Josef Schwabenberger, Zugführer in a Grenadier-Regiment.
Feldwebel Josef Schwabenberger… repulsed an attack by a Soviet battalion in the area southwest of Vyazma with his Zug of Lower Saxonian Grenadiers. The Soviets then approached his position once again through the dense terrain. Schwabenberger thusly conducted a counterattack on his own initiative with a part of his Zug. In doing so annihilated the lead enemy elements and forced the remainder to fall back.”