- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 128, 23. Panzer-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- September 5th, 1944
Oberleutnant Stichtenoth was the commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 128 in the summer of 1944. During this time its parent division, the 23. Panzer-Division, was engaged in heavy fighting in Poland. On the 01.08.1944 the Division was assigned the task of advancing along the east bank of the Vistula to the city of Baranov, where the Soviets had established a bridgehead. Its orders were to capture the city and cut off the bridgehead from its supply line. Despite their reaching and opening fire on the ferry traffic next to Baranov, the Russians counterattacked at the base of the advance and cut off those elements of the Division that had made it to the bridgehead, including Stichtenoth’s Regiment. At this stage Stichtenoth formed a Kampfgruppe of these elements, and on the night of the 04./05.08.1944 led a breakout south towards the German lines. With minimal losses, he led his men to safety through 12 km of hostile territory, destroying 10 Soviet AFVs in the process. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross for this action.
According to the Soldbuch awarded on 8-11-1944.