Andres, Hans

Date of birth:: April 11th, 1922 (Darmstadt/Hesse, Germany)
Date of death:: March 25th, 1944 (Feldlazerett Troppau/Upper Silesia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Posthumously promoted to Feldwebel der Reserve.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: January 13th, 1943

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1943

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: February 5th, 1944

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Obergefreiter (Corporal)
Unit:: MG-Schütze 2. / Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 128 / 23.Panzer-Division
Awarded on:: May 4th, 1944

Hans Andres was a Panzergrenadier machine-gunner during the fighting on the southern sector of the eastern front in early 1944. During the month of March his Kompanie launched an attempt to seize a village southeast of Krivoi Rog. While this was being undertaken the open flank of the Kompanie was counterattacked by about 150 Soviet soldiers. Andres realized the gravity of the situation and took the Soviets under fire with his MG. Due to his limited field of fire he crossed a creek and, under heavy fire, was able to take up a new and better firing position on the opposite bank. Andres’ MG inflicted heavy losses on the Soviets and compelled them to pull back. Andres was thus awarded the Knight’s Cross for pulling his Kompanie out of a potentially critical situation, however he unfortunately died in hospital from battle injuries before he could receive the award.