Angel, Otto

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer

Date of birth:: February 20th, 1913 (Oberntief/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:: October 14th, 2002 (Schmelz/Saarland, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Unteroffizier der Reserve (Corporal of Reserves)
Unit:: Zugführer Panzerjäger-Abteilung 6 / Panzerjäger-Brigade 104 / Kampfgruppe Munzel (Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 185)
Awarded on:: March 15th, 1945

Otto Angel was originally a member of the Sturmartillerie until early 1945, when he was transferred to the Hetzer-equipped Panzer-Jagd-Abteilung 6. He went on to achieve great success with his new unit On the 07.03.1945, during the German defense of Körlin, he was attacked by a force of 9 T-34s and 4 IS-2s. Despite these bad odds he was able to knock out 6 T-34s in just 7 minutes. Three days later, and despite battle damage to his Hetzer, he destroyed a further 8 tanks and by doing so made a major contribution to the successful German defense west of Buchholz. For these actions, as well as raising his total of tanks destroyed to 38, Angel was awarded the Knight’s Cross.