Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, 3. Kompanie, Landungs-Pionier-Bataillon 86, Heer

Awarded on:

November 26th, 1944

On the 27.10.1944 a combined English/Greek force attacked the island of Piskopi (now more commonly called “Tilos”). They succeeded in capturing both the island and its German garrison, but not before the latter had sent out a distress signal.

In response Leutnant Biggemann received orders to take command of a Heer boat group consisting of 2 Sturmbooten and 2 Pionier-Landungsbooten. Biggemann’s mission was to use these vessels to transport and support a mixed infantry/Pionier group under the command of Oberleutnant Jenninger, which was assigned the role of seizing the island itself. This task force reached Piskopi on the next day, and despite several unsuccessful landing attempts as well as intervention by both Allied aircraft and the destroyer “HMS Sirius”, the group managed to bring the island under German control over the course of two days of combat.

Leutnant Biggemann would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for the invaluable aid that he rendered during the recapture of the island.