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Chrobek, Bruno

Date of birth:
October 9th, 1895 (Pleß/Upper Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:
December 10th, 1942 (Dimitriyevka, Soviet Union)
Nationality:
German

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur I./Infanterie-Regiment 54 / 18. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
September 26th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur I./Infanterie-Regiment 54 / 18. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
October 4th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur I./Infanterie-Regiment 54 / 18. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
July 4th, 1940
The following press excerpt describes why Chrobek was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Major Bruno Chrobek distinguished himself as a particularly fearless and purposeful leader during the operations in Belgium and northern France. On the evening of the 26.05.1940 Major Chrobek found himself confronting a difficult mission while he was fighting at the Ypres Canal. He was ordered to thrust to the edge of Zillebeke, but as he did so he encountered unexpectedly heavy enemy resistance. However he mastered the situation, being the man to personally lead the Kompanien against the enemy and direct the heavy weapons into effective firing positions. He was up against the Royal Scots Regiment (which had been brought up by truck), a particularly brave and skillful enemy force. Over the course of the day he and his Bataillon fought hard against the superior enemy fire, and eventually they were able to storm the forest while inflicting heavy losses on the foe. The strong leadership personality of Major Chrobek repeatedly came to the fore during this battle. During the later battle at Dunkirk he significantly contributed to the capitulation of the enemy through the advance of his Bataillon and his repeatedly executed attacks.”

The Dunkirk action took place on the 03.06.1940.

Decoration No 118.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur III./Infanterie-Regiment 51 (mot.) / 18. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
July 12th, 1941
Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres

Action near Wetrino on 03 and 04-07-1941, decoration No 110.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur III./Infanterie-Regiment 51 (mot.) / 18. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
February 8th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Sources

Photo