Date of birth:

November 24th, 1914 (Plein-Wittlich/Palatinate, Germany)

Date of death:

December 25th, 2015 (Plein/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)

Nationality:

German

1935: Soldat
1941: Feldwebel
1944: Oberfeldwebel
1945: Leutnant
1945: Oberleutnant

Johann Schwerdfeger did his military service in the 84th Infantry Regiment between 1935 and 1937.
Recalled at the beginning of the war, he was transferred to the 3rd Company of the 186th Infantry Regiment, with which he took part in the Polish and Western campaigns.
In the summer of 1942 he came from the Jäger Replacement Battalion 75 to the Jäger Regiment 228, with which he fought in Russia.
During the fighting to withdraw from the Caucasus in 1943, he proved himself as a platoon leader and sergeant, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross on May 17, 1943.
During the fighting in the Vinnitsa area he distinguished himself again in March 1944, but was seriously wounded. Awarded the oak leaf for his achievements on May 14, 1944, he did not recover until the end of the war.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)

Unit:

3. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 186

Awarded on:

June 19th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Jäger-Ersatz-Bataillons 75

Awarded on:

November 19th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Jäger-Regiment 228, 101. Jäger-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

May 17th, 1943

During the German retreat to the Kuban bridgehead, a strong group of Soviet soldiers established themselves just ahead of the lines of Jäger-Regiment 228. Recognizing the danger that they posed to his position, Schwerdfeger led his platoon in an attack on the flank of this group. Despite being heavily outnumbered, they were able to destroy it in close combat. When the fight was over the Soviets had lost 93 dead and 86 prisoners. Schwerdfeger was thus awarded the Knight's Cross for achieving such an outstanding victory with only a platoon under his command.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Jäger-Regiment 228, 101. Jäger-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

May 14th, 1944

Awarded for his combat achievements during the relief operation of the trapped 1. Panzer-Armee in March 1944.

474th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
• Photo 2:
• Photo: Wilco Vermeer collection
  
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Bender R.J., Breyette T., Tank Killers, RJ Bender Publications, 2000, ISBN 0-912138-83-1
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Ritterkreuztraeger 1939 - 1945