Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur II. / Panzer-Regiment 31 / 5.Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

January 31st, 1941

The following wartime excerpt describes why Christern would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“After the breakthrough of the French border fortifications on the 17.05.1940, the Maubeuge Fortress lay on the right flank of the westwardly advancing 5. Panzer-Division. The heavy guns it possessed hindered the forward movement of this unit. The regimental commander thus resolved to thrust into the fortress with Panzers so as to eliminate this flanking fire. The success of this coup-de-main is attributable to the boldness of Major Christern. He and his Panzer-Kompanie [as quoted in the original text] overran the enemy garrison and entered into the citadel of the fortress. This effectively prepared the fortress for its eventual capitulation.”

The following press article provides an additional account of this action…

“As the Abteilung commander of a Panzer-Regiment, Major Christern took control of the Maubeuge citadel on the 18.05.1940 following a fierce battle against enemy tanks, anti-tank weapons and infantry. Through ruthless intervention he succeeded in preventing the destruction of the Sambre bridge and in holding the citadel on the opposite bank against enemy counterattacks. With the help of the reinforcing support troops it was possible to secure the fortress completely. Major Christern would go on to distinguish himself through his courageous actions during the later fighting of the Panzer-Regiment in Flanders.”

Submitted on November 20th 1940.
Preliminary document on February 2nd 1941 to AOK 12.