Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

5. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 / 3.Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

September 15th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Kommandeur II. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 / 3.Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

June 26th, 1944

Major Dietrich, commander of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3, received the Knight’s Cross for executing a daring counterattack on the 05.04.1944. On the previous day the Division’s two weak Panzergrenadier regiments had occupied positions around the village of Orhei, facing towards the north. The next day the Russians attacked from the north and northwest with 2 battalions and 14 tanks. They forced the Germans to evacuate the village and even got a tank over the bridge beyond it, cutting off the German line of retreat, before it was destroyed by an immobilized Panther. After another Russian tank had been knocked out by a Pak the remaining 12 fled. Confused, the Russian infantry began to abandon their gains as well. It was at this point that Major Dietrich decided to take advantage of the situation and he launched a counterattack with his Bataillon, retaking the old defensive positions at Orhei and giving his division valuable breathing space. This action would later be known to the soldiers of the division as “The Miracle of Orhei.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)