Roßhart, Emil

Date of birth:: October 23rd, 1919 (Kirchhausen/Württemberg, Germany)
Date of death:: April 3rd, 1990 (Geisingen/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Emil Roßhart reached the rank of Oberfeldwebel.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Obergefreiter (Corporal)
Unit:: Gruppenführer 2. / Sturm-Regiment 195 / 78. Sturm-Division
Awarded on:: April 3rd, 1943

On the 10.03.1942 the Soviets launched a major assault on the positions of the 78. Sturm-Division located near Dmitrowsk (close to Orel). The Soviet forces were absorbed and destroyed by the defending forces through a combination of artillery fire and bitter close combat. Among the defenders here was Emil Roßhart. He went through belt after belt at his MG-position, breaking the Soviet assault in his sector. As the battle progressed however he noticed that that the attackers had penetrated into the sector of the adjacent German Zug. Roßhart thus changed his position and brought this attack to a standstill via MG fire from the flank. Shortly afterwards a friendly counterattack was able to stabilize the situation for good.

For his role in ensuring the integrity of the German front in this sector, which helped to thwart an Soviet encirclement of friendly forces, Roßhart would receive the Knight’s Cross.