Deutschmann, Siegfried

Date of birth:: December 28th, 1912 (Schmipseln/Eastprussia, Germany)
Date of death:: September 15th, 1986 (Kaiserslautern/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: August 7th, 1940

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: October 29th, 1941

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:: Zugführer, 4. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 483, 263. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: September 26th, 1944

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:: Führer 8. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 463, 263. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: December 11th, 1944

The following press article describes why Deutschmann would be awarded the Knight’s Cross. The location of this action was at Embute…

“After hours of artillery fire the Soviets commenced a major assault east of Libau, and they succeeded in penetrating into the frontline of the defending German Regiment with 20 tanks.

At this moment Oberfeldwebel Siegfried Deutschmann, a long-time Grenadier-Kompanie commander, found himself in a mortar position. He immediately recognized the critical situation, and so he ordered the mortar to be taken apart and put in a safe place before he attacked the broken-in enemy with its crew. He and his men stormed past the enemy armour against their escorting infantry, separating them from the tanks. The Soviets were forced to pull back with bloody losses.

Oberfeldwebel Deutschmann then went on to hold his position in bitter close combat until reinforcements could be brought up and finally stabilize the situation. For this deed, which prevented an imminent Soviet breakthrough, the Führer awarded the the Knight’s Cross to this brave Kompanie commander.”