Schwalb, Helmut

Date of birth:: October 17th, 1915 (Wassertrüdingen/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:: May 31st, 2006 (Munster, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Promotions:
?: Oberleutnant;
March 1st, 1944: Hauptmann (RDA: -109-).

Career:
?: Artillerie-Regiment 103;
?: 1. Batterie, Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 190;
?: Chef, 1. Batterie, Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 190;
December 19th, 1944: Kommandeur, Lehrgruppe II, Sturmartillerie-Schule.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: April 14th, 1941

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: September 21st, 1943

Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: 1. Batterie, Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 190, Heer
Awarded on:: November 15th, 1943

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:: 1. Batterie, Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 190, Heer
Awarded on:: January 20th, 1944

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:: Chef, 1. Batterie, Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 190, Heer
Awarded on:: August 23rd, 1944

Awarded for the actions of his Batterie during operation Bagration. During the battle his battery was attached to the 337. Infanterie-Division, which despite the efforts of the German Sturmgeschütze was pushed back with high losses in men and materiel. It was only through the efforts of Schwalb and his battery, acting as rearguard, that the remaining divisional elements (including the division’s staff) were able to escape over the Dnieper at Mogilev.

Later on, Schwalb and his Sturmgeschütze would be involved in a counterattack to retake a village, which was very successful and resulted in enemy losses of over 40 tanks and numerous AT guns.