Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter

Unit:

1. / Pionier-Batallion 81

Awarded on:

May 6th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter

Unit:

2. / Pionier-Batallion 81

Awarded on:

February 8th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)

Unit:

MG-Schütze 2. / Pioniere-Battalion 81 / 45.Infanterie-Division / 9.Armee

Awarded on:

March 6th, 1944

The following newspaper article (dated 11.04.1944) describes why Zastrow received the Knight’s Cross…

“Knight’s Cross for a Viennese Assault-Troop Pionier:

The Führer has awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to Max Zastrow (a 22-year old Gefreiter from Vienna and flamethrower operator in a Linz Pionier-Bataillon) in recognition of his heroic actions at the front.

…

At the start of February 1944 the Soviets succeeded in penetrating the lines of a weak friendly flanking screen using their own numerically superior forces in an attack from the direction of Schazilki. They also created a bridgehead on the northern bank of the Beresina river. Thus, on the 06.02.1944, a friendly assault troop operation was set into motion. The objective of this attack was to recapture the main trench position of the enemy bridgehead (located along a strongly fortified railroad embankment), which would remove the danger of this bridgehead being used as a viable base for future Soviet offensive operations.

During the course of this attack the assault troop to which Gefreiter Zastrow belonged came under coordinated fire by all weapons of the foremost Bolshevik bunkers and MG nests. Then, at the decisive moment, Gefreiter Zastrow’s flamethrower malfunctioned. In this critical moment for the whole assault troop, Gefreiter Zastrow decided to toss aside his flamethrower and eliminate a commanding enemy MG position with a box of grenades that he dragged up to throwing range. A heavy firefight followed, and although he himself became wounded in the process he managed to eliminate this Bolshevik MG nest with 16 hand grenades. He then went into position once again and eliminated a neighbouring enemy strongpoint with well-directed rifle fire (despite coming under heavy fire himself once again). By doing so he facilitated the approach of his assault troop against an enemy bunker, and once it had been stormed the final attack objective was attained.

The independent and fearless intervention of Gefreiter Zastrow on this day was decisive for the success that was achieved.”

Preliminary document dated on March 10th 1944.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)