Gebhard, Georg Johann

Date of birth:: October 31st, 1911 (Augsburg/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:: November 12th, 1993 (Bad Reichenhall/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Career:
?: III. Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100/ 1. Gebirgs-Division;
?: Kommandeur III. Bataillon / Grenadier-Brigade 503.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Brigade 503, 20. Gebirgs-Armee, Heer
Awarded on:: October 23rd, 1944

The following article from the Münchener Neuesten Nachrichten (dated October 1944) describes why Gebhard was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“The Hero of Petsamo:

After days of uninterrupted attacks, which were supported by the heaviest artillery fire, the Bolsheviks succeeded in capturing several German positions in the Petsamo bridgehead. A splintering and consequent destruction of this bridgehead appeared to be inevitable. Then the commander of a Grenadier Bataillon, Major Georg Gebhard (from Augsburg), decided to launch a counterattack. Despite the vast enemy numerical superiority Gebhard personally led his forces with such skill and flexibility that the enemy was forced to fall back. This allowed the bridgehead to be held for a whole additional day.”