Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 2nd, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 2nd, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Unit:

4. Batterie, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich”, 7. Armee, Heeresgruppe B

Awarded on:

August 27th, 1944

The following newspaper article (dated 21./22.10.1944) describes why Schabschneider was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Another Knight’s Cross Holder from the Lower Danube:

The Führer has awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to SS-Unterscharführer Hans Schabschneider, Geschützführer in the SS-Panzer-Division ‘Das Reich’, who was born in Ybbs an der Donau on the 29.04.1920.

During the fighting along the Invasion Front SS-Unterscharführer Schabschneider remained by his light field howitzer due to a shortage of fuel. He gathered up 30 men into an assault troop and intercepted an enemy vehicle column. During this operation 80 prisoners were captured, 15 German prisoners were freed, 8 armoured personnel carriers were destroyed and 2 trucks with fuel were captured. A further result of SS-Unterscharführer Schabschneider’s bold and decisive conduct was that 100 friendly vehicles were able to escape through a gap in the enemy’s front that had been created in the confusion caused by his actions.”