Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 17th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 12th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Rittmeister

Unit:

Kommandeur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 / 5.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

July 13th, 1940

The following wartime excerpt describes why Niemack received the Knight’s Cross…

“Rittmeister Horst Niemack led his Aufklärungs-Abteilung with bravery, boldness and skill. At midday on the 11.06.1940 he decisively influenced the fighting in his area by deciding to thrust into the rear of enemy forces at Damery (on the Marne river), as a frontal advance was not possible. Such an aggressively executed envelopment demoralized the enemy, and it enabled the friendly leadership to cut off major enemy elements by swiftly committing additional troops to the action. This maneuver also enabled the Marne river to be swiftly reached.”

113th Award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 3rd, 1941

21st Award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 6th, 1941

Rittmeister Niemack, leader of a reconnaissance unit, the first lieutenants Freiherr Maercken and Buchterkirch in a tank regiment, and Lieutenant Ritz in a rifle regiment distinguished themselves through exemplary bravery.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Rittmeister

Unit:

Kommandeur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 / 5.Infanterie-Division / V.Armee-Korps / 9.Armee / Heeregruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

August 10th, 1941

Awarded for the outstanding leadership of his Abteilung during the first days of Operation Barbarossa. On 22.06.1941 Niemack, while commanding the divisional Vorausabteilung, took a detour off the main road, cut through Serijai and by this was able to reach the Niemen river at Krikstonjai.

On 27.06.1941 he then thrusted towards the Niemen at Orla. During this action he made a bold decision… His Reiterschwadron was to advance via Szczara, through Korole and into the area NE of Piaski. The rest of the Abteilung was to advance via Korole. In executing this move Hill 132 (2 km south of Korole) was taken in addition to the area assigned to the Reiterschwadron at Szczara. This helped to seal off the escape route of those Soviet soldiers trapped in the Bialystok-Grodno pocket.

30th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Grossdeutschland" / Panzer-Grenadier-Division „Großdeutschland“ / LVII.Armee-Korps / 8.Armee / Heeresgruppe Süd

Awarded on:

June 4th, 1944

The following announcement from the Führerhauptquartier (dated 06.06.1944) describes why Niemack received the Swords to his Knight’s Cross…

“On the 4th of June the Führer bestowed the Swords to Oberst Horst Niemack, commander of a Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment, as the 69th soldier of the German Wehrmacht to be so honoured.

At the beginning of the campaign in the Soviet Union the former Rittmeister, along with his Aufklärungs-Abteilung, played a major role in the swift seizure of a crossing over the Niemen.

On the 2nd of May 1944 the enemy commenced a decisive attack east of the Sereth. The Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment “Großdeutschland”, under its commander Oberst Niemack, held the enemy assault at bay. In this time a group of 34 enemy tanks suddenly appeared at the command post of Oberst Niemack and from here threatened an important crossroads. Oberst Niemack only had his staff, the communications platoon and some drivers at his disposal. At the head of this small band he threw himself against the enemy. 8 enemy tanks were destroyed in close combat. The regimental commander was the soul of the resistance here and personally dispatched the Soviet command tank and with it the leader of the whole enemy group. With this the enemy attack in this sector was repelled.”

69th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.

Awarded on:

June 12th, 1969

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Award shown in the Karteikarte.