Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 39, 3. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 9th, 1941

Major Beigel commanded the Pionier-Bataillon 39 during the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa. The second day of the battle, the 23.06.1941, was a day that saw the 3. Panzer-Division pursue the retreating Soviet forces. In the latter part of the day Beigel took over the Vorausabteilung of the Division and drove it forward. Disregarding retreating Soviet forces, he and his men pushed past bridges, villages and patches of woods. They brushed aside a blocking position along a railway crossing and drove through Soviet artillery barrages targeting the road. They were able to reach and secure their final objective, the bridge over the Szczara (located 2 km north of Czemioty), by 22:00 on this day. Over the course of that day the division destroyed or captured 107 Russian AFVs as well as several hundred artillery pieces, and they advanced a total of 150 kilometers past their start line on the previous day. Beigel later received the Knight’s Cross for his important role in commanding the Vorausabteilung and securing the vital Szczara bridge.