Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 317, 211. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

November 28th, 1943

In late September 1943 the 211. Infanterie-Division carried out a fighting withdrawal in the central sector of the Eastern front. One of the river obstacles to be crossed was the Iput. However the necessary bridge had to undergo repair work before it could be crossed, and thus Hauptmann Dohle received orders to create a bridgehead, shield the repair efforts and then provide the rearguard for the rest of the Division. For this mission he had the I./Grenadier-Regiment 317, the remains of Bataillon 306, an Artillerie-Abteilung and a Heeres-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung. Located along the road between Worga and Rudnja, this bridgehead managed to hold out against the hotly pursuing Soviets until all the friendly vehicles and artillery had crossed over to the opposite riverbank. The bridge was blown at midday on the 25.09.1943, and Hauptmann Dohle’s rearguard withdrew in the direction of Gulka via Rudnja. He would later be awarded the Knight’s Cross for his bravery and leadership while defending the Iput bridgehead.