Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef 6. / Artillerie-Regiment 219 / 183. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

December 20th, 1943

Awarded for his actions on the 10.10.1943, as described in the following report…

“On the west bank of the Dnieper, north of Kiev, the enemy thrusted southwards and crossed over the Teterew river near where it flowed into the Dnieper. Their strong forces pushed back a Grenadier-Bataillon that had been dispatched against them, and they threatened to cut off those German forces that were still located in the Teterew delta. At the same time their continued advance was already upon the forward firing positions of the German artillery. Among the defenders here was Oberleutnant Kurt Flad (from Karlsruhe) and his Batterie. After the retreat of the Grenadiers he received orders to fall back likewise. But he realized that the Soviets would still have to be held off for some time in order to enable the friendly forces that were engaged on the Dnieper islands to retreat. Therefore he decided to stay in his position on his own initiative and awaited the regimental-sized Bolshevik force that was coming towards his Batterie. First with observed fire, and then direct fire as the enemy drew closer, he inflicted significant losses on the incoming Soviets and eventually forced them to go to ground.

But the enemy knew that it was important for them to swiftly thrust towards the south. They directed the fire of numerous batteries against Oberleutnant Flad’s gun position, and in the late afternoon they sent in 8 tanks. The enemy infantry had meanwhile been reinforced and once again began their assault. In this critical situation the Batterie commander showed his outstanding bravery and iron resolve. He led the defensive battle amidst the enemy fire and inspired his gunners to greater achievements by his own example. 3 of the tanks were forced to retreat, while the remaining 5 rolled past his Batterie towards the south. Oberleutnant Flad concentrated the fire of his artillery against the following infantry, launching salvo after salvo into the thick masses. The attack ground to a halt with heavy losses for the Bolsheviks.

During this battle the Oberleutnant was badly wounded, but he knew that his Batterie needed his leadership and so remained in the line of fire despite the pain and weakness (due to blood loss) that was forced upon him. With clenched teeth he awaited the continued Soviet attack. At first they didn’t dare to attack the Batterie’s position from the front. They bypassed Flad’s Batterie via the thick forests and forced the German Batterie located further south to fall back. Oberleutnant Flad and his Batterie stood alone as an island in the middle of the Bolshevik tide. Yet even now he did not think to retreat from the enemy. Instead he continued to hold on so as to continue to provide fire protection for the comrades on the Dnieper islands during their difficult crossing over the oxbow lake of the river.

And once again the enemy launched new infantry masses against the Batterie position. Despite his severe wounds the Oberleutnant personally directed the defensive fire and collapsed wave after wave of the attackers. However eventually the last rounds of artillery ammunition were fired. Now he had to pull back. While Oberleutnant Flad and the gunners provided protection in the infantry role, the artillery wagons galloped up. Under heavy enemy fire the heroically fighting Batterie commander covered the limbering and retreat of the guns. Then, as the Bolsheviks had approached to a distance of 60 metres, he and his gunners disengaged from the enemy.

The brave stand of Oberleutnant Flad and his Batterie enabled the retreat of the bulk of two Grenadier regiments as well as the construction of a new defensive front. The Batterie commander received the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross for this achievement.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)