Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 28th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 27th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

5. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2, 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

March 29th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (Pilot Officer)

Unit:

Führer 5./Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 2

Awarded on:

August 8th, 1944

Awarded for his actions around Kirovograd in the winter of 1943-44. In the late December of 1943 the Soviets managed to penetrate into the German lines with strong infantry forces and 7 tanks. Lepkowski led a counterattack with his II. Zug and 3 Sturmgeschütze and was able to defeat this attacking force, preventing an Soviet breakthrough in the process.

Later, on the 21.12.1943, Lepkowski took over command of the 5./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 after its commander had fallen in an attempt to take Hill 167. The next day the Kompanie tried again with Lepkowski at its head, and this time it was able to capture the hill after a 2-hour long battle while overrunning the Soviet AT gun positions.

On the 27.12.1943 Lepkowski and his men relieved 6. Kompanie in its positions on Hill 159.9. At the time he only had 45 men available for battle. 5. Kompanie then defended the hill until the 07.01.1944, repelling 16 Soviet attacks in that time. By this date however they were down to just 17 men, and their position became untenable with the Soviet encirclement of the hill on this day. Thus, that night, Lepkowski conducted a breakout with his troops, during which they managed to cross over a destroyed bridge and reach the rest of their Bataillon. Lepkowski would be appropriately recognized for his successes achieved over the previous weeks.