Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major der Reserve (Major of Reserves)

Unit:

Grenadier-Regiment 171

Awarded on:

January 18th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst der Reserve (Colonel of Reserves)

Unit:

Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 306 / 211. Volks-Grenadier-Division

Awarded on:

November 16th, 1944

Awarded for his actions in autumn 1944, as described in the following press article…

“A half hour of drumfire - then the Soviets once again commenced their attack with strong, fresh infantry forces. Supported by heavy tanks, this enormous enemy superiority succeeded in pushing back the friendly infantry units that had been heavily run-down by the uninterrupted fighting. After days of failed attempts, the sought-after Soviet breakthrough towards Mackeim now seemed unavoidable. In this extremely critical situation the regimental commander, Oberst Eichler, personally intervened in the fighting with swift initiative. His prudent calm and imposing bravery were once again able to retrieve the desperate situation.

With a few hastily assembled Grenadier squads and 3 Sturmgeschützen, he first succeeded in halting the enemy’s attack on the western edge of one of the villages near Mackeim. He swiftly made use of this respite in the battle. Quickly rounding up the hodgepodge of available units in the area with compelling energy, he immediately moved to attack in order to give the enemy no time for respite. Always in the midst of his Grenadiers, he ejected the Soviets from the village towards the southeast after a hard bout of combat. Now it was time to restore the old frontline. However while this attack was being prepared the Soviets penetrated through the left neighbouring sector with 12 tanks and strong infantry forces. In just a short time they reached a village just before the eastern edge fo Mackeim. Now the fate of the city appeared to be sealed.

Oberst Eichler recognized this danger. Bearing in mind the grave consequences that would also result for the neighbouring division, he again made a bold and yet risky decision. He would immediately move northwards with all available forces in order to strike this new and dangerous enemy from the flank. Although the Soviets he had pushed back in his area were already commencing an attack to recapture the village they had lost, the commander did not deviate from his original plan. Skillfully employing his 3 subordinated Sturmgeschützen, he and his exhausted Grenadiers hurled themselves into the flank of the Soviets with such force that they fled from the village despite their greater numbers. All 12 of the enemy tanks which were fighting in the streets were destroyed by the Sturmgeschützen, Panzerjäger and Grenadiers.

Though they came within a hair’s breadth of reaching the goal of their attack, instead the Soviets once again took very bloody losses without any success to show for it.”