Bergerhoff, Günther, Dr.jur. (Gren-Reg. 162)

Date of birth:: December 12th, 1912 (Klein Goddula/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:: May 6th, 1991 (Bochum/Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Career:
12.02.1940: entered the Wehrmacht - Wehrkreis replacement depot in Westphalia and received his recruit training at Rembertow near Warsaw
10.04.1940: appointed 11./ Inf.Rgt. 325
06.1940: did not take part to the Western campaign and appointed to the III./ Inf.Rgt. 162 in the Concarneau-Rosporden area in Brittany
01.09.1941: WIA in Russia and sent to military hospital 3./ 571
25.01.1942: Stab./ III./ Inf.Rgt. 162
26.07.1942: Stab./ I./ Inf.Rgt. 162
29.07.1942: 6./ Inf.Rgt. 162
01.08.1942: 2./ Inf.Rgt. 162
08.1942: promoted to Unteroffizier
12.10.-12.12.1942: 11. Offiziers-Anwärter-Lehrgang - Schule VII der Infanterie - Milowitz near Prag
15.12.1942: promoted to Leutnant der Reserve
25.01.1943: Stab./ I. / Grenadier-Regiment 162
27.02.1944: took part in his 23rd close combat day near Auwere
15.-16.02.1944: Grenadier Regiment 162 being attacked by the enemy in the Narew bridgehead north of Kriwasoo during the night and the commander and all officers of the battalion being wounded, took over the leadership of the I./ GR162 and broke into the enemy line with a small assault team. He managed to establish a connection with the left neighbor and led his battalion through the small break-in. Through his deployment, the regiment's attack finally came to bear in the evening. The result of the day was the capture of a Soviet regimental staff, the capture of numerous infantry guns and several heavy grenade launchers. In addition, two enemy battalions were smashed.
15.03.1944: promoted to Oberleutnant der Reserve
14.04.1944: awarded the RK given to him because of his wound in the military hospital 1./531
29.04.-02.05.1944: in the reserve military hospital Allenstein 1
19.07.1944: in the military hospital in Semmering
End July 1944: appointed to the Grenadier-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Bataillon 151 in Bischofsburg
Fall 1944: returned to the regiment
25.01.1945: WIA and treated first by the medical company 1/158
15.02.1945: sent to be cared for in the reserve hospital in Lübeck
19.03.1945: transferred to the Blankenstein / Ruhr sub-hospital.

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Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Gefreiter der Reserve (Lance Corporal of Reserves)
Unit:: II./ Inf.Rgt. 162
Awarded on:: July 26th, 1942

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Stab I./ Grenadier-Regiment 162
Awarded on:: July 24th, 1943

Nahkampfspange in Bronze

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: I./ Gren.Rgt. 162
Awarded on:: April 8th, 1944

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Adjutant, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 162, 61. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: April 15th, 1944

On the night of the 15./16.02.1944 the Grenadier-Regiment 162 attacked the Soviet bridgehead over the Narew river north of Kriwasoo. After achieving a penetration with a small assault unit, Oberleutnant Bergerhoff found himself at the head of his Bataillon after its commander and all other officers had become casualties. He nonetheless succeeded in making contact with the left neighbour, and he led his Bataillon into the small penetration area he had previously made. His bravery and decisiveness on this night meant that the attack finally came to fruition as dawn broke. A Soviet regimental command post was captured, two enemy battalions were smashed and numerous infantry guns and heavy mortars were captured.

Oberleutnant Bergerhoff would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions here.