Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 5th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 4th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

15. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment "GrossDeutschland"

Awarded on:

February 28th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

Zugführer, 13. Kompanie, Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland", Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland"

Awarded on:

October 7th, 1944

The following excerpt from the frontline newspaper of the Großdeutschland Division (“Die Feuerwehr”) describes why Bielig was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“On the 18.09.1944 the Russians attacked the sector of a Panzergrenadier-Bataillon following a ferocious bombardment by artillery and heavy mortars. Among the defenders in this sector was Oberfeldwebel Bielig and his heavy infantry gun Zug. Persisting through heavy enemy artillery fire in his observation post, he directed the fire of his Zug against the oncoming Soviet assault guns and infantry.

His observation post was spotted and taken under fire by the hostile assault guns. He was thereby struck by a hit to the hips, wounded and rendered unconscious. When he had come to again he crawled to the defending Grenadiers. Then, after two reinforcing Sturmgeschütze had engaged the enemy assault guns, he attacked the Soviets on his own initiative with 5 Grenadiers. He threw them back in one location and thus recaptured a piece of the old frontline. After this Oberfeldwebel Bielig restored the communication link to his guns and smashed the continued Soviet attacks through well-emplaced infantry gun fire.”