Pelzer, Jakob

Date of birth:: September 3rd, 1919 (Ansbach/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:: September 2nd, 1942 (Ansbach/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Unit:: 1. / Infanterie-Regiment 61 / 7. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: January 15th, 1942

On the 10.11.1941 the 1./Infanterie-Regiment 61 had orders to occupy and hold a forest position near Golowkowo. On the same day the Soviets attacked this position with heavy artillery and mortar support. Some Soviet soldiers managed to storm an MG nest and wipe out its crew. In this fight the Germans were unable to conjure the necessary reserve for a counterattack. Acting on his own initiative, and despite the strongest of hostile MG fire, Gefreiter Pelzer managed to retake the lost MG nest with a captured Soviet MG and drive off or destroy the opposing soldiers therein. Following this he held the position against all Soviet attacks, being heavily wounded in the process.

With this the Soviet attempt at a penetration of the German front here, as well as a possible encirclement following this, was thwarted only through the bold and fearless actions of Gefreiter Pelzer. He was subsequently awarded the Knight’s Cross as a result.