Date of birth:

July 16th, 1915 (Breslau/Silesia, Germany)

Date of death:

October 20th, 1997 (Waldbröl/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Martin Steglich joined Infanterie-Regiment 27 in the Baltic port of Rostock on October 1st, 1936 at the age of 21 and was commissioned as a Leutnant on April 1st, 1939. Steglich was promoted to Oberleutnant in October 1941 whilst serving on the Eastern Front, where Infanterie-Regiment 27 formed part of 12. Infanterie-Division with Heeresgruppe Nord. In December 1942, when the officer in command of the unit adjacent to Steglich was killed, Steglich took command and successfully threw back a Soviet breakthrough. Hauptmann Steglich attended a training course for Battalion Commanders in Antwerp followed by Staff training and Regimental Commander training. He was promoted to Major on 20 April 1944. In November 1944, Major Steglich became Regimental Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 1221 on the Western Front. On the cessation of hostilities Oberstleutnant Steglich was taken prisoner by the U.S. Army but was released in August 1945. Oberstleutnant Steglich returned to the service of his country when the Germy Army was reformed as the Bundesheer of the Federal Republic. He was promoted to the rank of Oberst on 1 August 1962. Steglich is a holder of the Verdienstorden of the Federal Republic in both Second and First Classes.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 14th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 27th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 28th, 1941

174th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 30th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

5. / Infanterie-Regiment 27

Awarded on:

January 11th, 1942

Award 52/32.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer I. / Grenadier-Regiment 89 / Abschnitt von Mayer (Stab R.R.3) / 123.Infanterie-Division / II.Armee-Korps / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

January 25th, 1943

On the 23.12.1942, at 10:30, Oberleutnant Steglich learned that the Soviets had broken through in the sector adjacent to him. In response to this he resolved to stabilize the situation here even in spite of the great risk to the security of his own section of frontline. On the next day, at 10:00, he received word that the commander of the Bataillon in this neighbouring sector had become a casualty. He thus subordinated the battalion to himself and threw himself into organizing its defence. Fighting at the front with his troops, they managed to seal off the penetration.

As a result of this the attempted Soviet breakthrough to the road at Zemena was prevented, a move which would have cut off the supply route for the whole II. Armeekorps. And so in recognition of his accomplishment here Steglich was decorated with the Knight's Cross.

At the time the decoration was actually awarded, Steglich already held the rank of Hauptmann and was already appointed as Führer II. / Füsilier Regiment 27.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Führer Grenadier-Regiment 1221 / 180.Infanterie-Division / LII.Armeekorps / Armee AA Lütwitz / Heeresgruppe B

Awarded on:

April 5th, 1945

Awarded for his demonstrated bravery and leadership abilities while commanding the Grenadier-Regiment 1221 at the Hochwald near Xanten and the Reichswald near Kleve. He proved himself particularly adept in separating the British infantry from their tanks and then destroying the latter in close combat.

816th Award.

• Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
  - Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945