Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 170 / 73.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

June 4th, 1944

Awarded for his actions near Sevastopol in early 1944, as reported in the following press article (dated 20.04.1944)…

“In the Sevastopol combat area the Soviets launched an attack along the northern and southern sides of the Bachtschissarai—Sevastopol railway line on the 19.04.1944. The attack was preceded by heavy artillery fire and supported by numerous tanks and ground attack aircraft. Our Grenadiers managed to fight off all hostile attacks while destroying 11 tanks in the process. During the heavy retreat battles in the previous days a Kampfgruppe of the 73. Infanterie-Division commanded by Oberst Dorenbeck as well as the subordinated 1./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 191 demonstrated particularly bravery and steadfastness, as reported in the Wehrmachtbericht. Their resistance secured the withdrawal movements of the bulk of our forces, destroyed 62 Soviet tanks in the process and inflicted bloody losses upon the enemy.”