- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 213
- Awarded on:
- October 30th, 1941
Awarded for the leadership of his Regiment during the German breakthrough of the Perekop isthmus in 1941. The unit was positioned as one of the key German formations in the assault, and over the course of heavy fighting on the 24.-25.09.1941 the Regiment succeeded in breaching the deep Soviet defensive network up to the Tartar ditch. This bold thrust by Hitzfeld would trigger the collapse of other Soviet defenses in this area.