Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

Melder 5. / Grenadier-Regiment 337 / 208.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

April 14th, 1945

At the start of March 1945 the Soviets launched a renewed effort to capture the village of Striegau (Silesia). Obergefreiter Bischof, a messenger, found himself a few hundred metres behind the main German frontline during a heavy Soviet barrage. This barrage knocked out two German MG crews within Bischof’s line of sight, and Bischof could see that nothing nearby could stop an approaching attack by Soviet infantry and tanks.

Acting on his own initiative, he decided to occupy both MG positions on a rotatory basis in order to combat the attackers. In this way he fought the Soviet infantry for almost a half hour long, and after this all the Soviet attackers pulled back unexpectedly. With this the Soviet attack was repulsed, and a Kampfgruppe that had been hastily assembled in the rear moved up to reoccupy the positions.

Obergefreiter Bischof would later be awarded the Knight’s Cross for managing to single-handedly stop an enemy attack on this day.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)