Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Infanteriesturmabzeichen in Silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, 8. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Lehr-Regiment "Brandenburg" z.b.V. 800, Heer

Awarded on:

September 16th, 1942

On the 10.08.1942 Leutnant Prochaska led a team of 24 men from his 8./Lehr-Regiment “Brandenburg” z.b.V. 800 with the aim of taking the road bridge over the Belaya river. They dressed in Red Army uniforms and started towards the bridges at 13:00 in four captured Soviet trucks. By around 17:00 they had reached the city of Belorechensk and here merged with the retreating Soviet soldiers and civilians. As they approached the bridge they were halted by a Soviet general, who inquired as to their business. Prochaska told him that they were ordered to help guard the bridge, a lie which was passable enough to avoid suspicion.

After the team had crossed the bridge (which was already prepped for demolition) over to the southern bank they took up their PPSh-41 SMGs and dismounted. They shot the crew of a nearby tanker truck, cut the wires and moved to remove the explosives from the bridge. The team fired two white flares to signal their success, to which German Panzer forces in Belorechensk responded in kind. 18 minutes after the bridge was captured, the first German Panzer moved to cross over the bridge. However while it was attempting to crush the abandoned Soviet vehicles it broke down due to a defective clutch. For 50 minutes the bridge remained blocked. During this time Prochaska was shot while running back across the bridge (most likely by a sniper), however the lead Panzer was eventually back in action and German troops crossed the bridge in force.

For securing this vital structure intact, and paying the ultimate sacrifice in the process, Leutnant Prochaska would be awarded the Knight’s Cross.