Date of birth:

September 25th, 1913 (Ehrang-Trier/Rhineprovince, Germany)

Date of death:

July 10th, 1992 (Oberbillig/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)

Nationality:

German

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

Melder 2. / Grenadier-Regiment 698

Awarded on:

October 16th, 1944

On one day during the fighting in mid-late 1944, the Soviets launched an attack against the positions of the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 698. They managed to achieve a penetration, and all the Kompanie officers became casualties. In response to this major crisis, Obergefreiter Holstein decided to take over command of the Kompanie. At the head of the Kompanie headquarters troops and several lightly wounded men, he launched a counterstroke against the broken-in enemy. This managed to retake the old German frontline after a bitter fight.

Johann Holstein would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for this act of bravery and devotion to duty.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Norbert Beyerlein
• Photo: Beyerlein sammlung
  
• - HUß, JÜRGEN & SONDERMANN, HEINZ-WERNER, Ritterkreuzträger im Mannschaftsstand 1941-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, 2009.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9