Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

Melder I. / Grenadier-Regiment 377 / 225.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

August 12th, 1944

The following press article describes why Peter Felten would receive the Knight’s Cross…

“Obergefreiter receives the Knight’s Cross - Threw himself against the Soviets with seven men:

Near Antaliepte (southwest of Dünaburg) two Soviet companies with the support of several T-34s attacked a Zug from a northern German Grenadier-Regiment. Due to the enemy drumfire one of the MGs was knocked out. The Russians penetrated the thin line along a very narrow front and thrusted forwards against a commanding hill.

Obergefreiter Peter Felten (born in Lüftelberg, near Cologne), a messenger from the Kompanie HQ squad of 1. Kompanie, recognized the impending danger. The Kompanie commander had become a casualty, and the 21 year old Obergefreiter felt the need to act on his own. He jumped out of his foxhole and threw himself against the enemy. Along the way he gathered up 6 further Grenadiers that were in the area. With a loud ‘Hurra’ the 7 men stormed into the attacking enemy ranks. A bitter round of close combat broke out with the much numerically superior Soviets. However the bravery and better training of the Grenadiers decided the battle in their favour. With commendable aggressiveness Felten personally eliminated several enemy MG nests. The enemy pulled back from their gains with bloody losses. The hill remained firmly in German hands.

The brave Obergefreiter, who only the day before had received the Iron Cross Fist Class, would be awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross by the Führer.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)