Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 2nd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 9th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 3rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 2nd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 30th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment (motorisiert) 60, 16. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

January 8th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 156,16. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

August 27th, 1943

Fischer’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“The mission of the 16. Pz.Gren.Div. - the ready reserve of the 6. Armee - was stated as:

‘Attack the enemy forces that had penetrated the line northwest of Kuibyschewo and retake the lost frontline to the southwest of Dmitrijewka.’

On the night of the 17.-18.07.1943 the Division reached the assembly area on both sides of Malinowka, from which it could commence an attack towards the northeast along both sides of the deep Olchowtschik ravine on the morning of the next day. While the rightly positioned Gren.Rgt. (mot) 60 became locked in a bitter struggle to take control of the commanding Hill 168.5, the left attacking Gren.Rgt. (mot) 156 under the command of Oberstleutnant Fischer stormed unstoppably forwards with commendable energy.

As the Regiment’s foremost elements reached the first attack objective, the commanding Hill 203.4 located southwest of Marinowka, strong enemy forces supported by 30-40 tanks emerged out of the ravine south of Marinowka and began attacking towards the south. The situation here swiftly developed into a major crisis, as now the enemy threatened to break through the weak position between both Regiments. These units already had all their available forces tied down in their own offensive operations.

Oberstleutnant Fischer, at the time personally leading his Regiment’s energetic attack from the frontline, recognized this new danger. With iron resolve he regrouped his Regiment from its present attack, shifted the focal point, sent new forces up and brought the dangerous thrust in his right flank to a halt.

The onslaught of overwhelming enemy forces (namely the Russian 2nd Guards Mechanized Corps, 32nd Guards Tank Brigade, 34th, 96th and 40th Guards Rifle Divisions as well as the 221st and 315th Rifle Divisions) was smashed to pieces by the iron will of the Grenadier-Regiments despite the enemy’s use of massed artillery, mortars and Katyushas (576 barrels altogether). On the other hand, early on the 19.07.1943 the Russians succeeded in busting through the thin security line south of Stepanowka (held by the Pionier-Bataillon and Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung) with superior armoured forces, and these advanced towards Derany [?]. This necessitated the recapture of the Division’s west wing on the hills north and northwest of Kalinowka. At midday on the 22.07.1943 the enemy began assaulting this new defensive line following a heavy artillery preparation and continuous rolling attacks by ground-attack aircraft. The furious enemy artillery fire and rain of magnesium from the sky set the steppe on fire. Thick clouds of smoke hung over the battlefield.

Under cover of this smoke the freshly brought up Russian 4th Guards Mechanized Corps broke through the front northeast of Kalinowka. As the smoke lifted strong enemy tank forces with mounted infantry were already located in Kalinowka itself, deep in the rear of friendly lines. Meanwhile new waves of enemy tanks rolled against the point of penetration.The situation of Regiment 156 appeared desperate and hopeless.

In this moment the regimental commander arrived. On the previous night he had gone to the Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 236 (which had just arrived from the homeland via rail transport), subordinated it and led it to the frontline. Without losing a minute, Oberstleutnant Fischer personally placed himself at the head of the oncoming Sturmgeschütze and personally led it into battle against the enemy armoured masses. He personally gathered up the Kompanien that had been thrown back out of their positions and once again brought them into the fight alongside the Sturmgeschützen.

This skillfully planned and executed counterthrust surrounded the broken-through enemy armoured group, which soon met its end at the hands of the concentrated fire of the Sturmgeschütze. Oberstleutnant Fischer rushed tirelessly from one to the other on the battlefield. He concentrated the artillery against the enemy’s point of penetration, which separated the following infantry from their tanks. He inspired the not-yet overran Bataillone to their highest resistance, with the result that no more men pulled back from their ground. The wings along the penetration point were held, and the broken-in enemy tanks were destroyed either by Pak crossfire or in close combat. Oberstleutnant Fischer then swiftly led assembled units of his Regiment in an attack against the point of break-in. The gap was closed. Once again Oberstleutnant Fischer had restored an almost hopeless situation of his Regiment.

Every man in the consolidated combat units were required to maintain their utmost vigilance. The infantry were overrun by strong tank forces on several occasions. The infantry had to endure heat, fatigue and an interrupted 8 days of combat activity in a state of total physical and mental exhaustion. However the remnants of the Bataillone continued to hold the important line of hills south of Kalinowka—Ssemenowskij. The enemy crashed against it several times a day with overwhelming forces. Following the smashing of their tank forces, these were now launched with freshly brought up Rifle Divisions that were supported by liberal amounts of artillery, mortars, Katyushas and ground attack aircraft.

The breaking point was reached on the 25.07.1943. The capabilities of the infantry had been overstrained. The commander rushed forward in his car. He took along with him all the remaining officers of his staff as well as messengers, signals troops, anyone who he still had. With these he confronted his fleeing soldiers. His words had the intended effect, and his confidence radiated calm and confidence. The unbelievable became reality. The retreating front came to a halt and turned around once again to face the enemy.

They went forward again with all that was available (Sturmgeschütze, Panzers, etc.), with the regimental commander and his staff at their head. He was simultaneously everywhere on the battlefield. The advancing enemy turned around and began to flee. The Gren.Rgt. (mot) 156 retook their old position. This victory was finally achieved literally while the unit was on its last legs."