Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Infanterie-Regiment 447

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Sergeant)

Unit:

Gruppenführer 7./Infanterie-Regiment 447 / 137. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

September 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Zugführer 7./Grenadier-Regiment 447 / 137. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

April 3rd, 1943

The following press excerpt describes why Lehrkinder was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“The First Badener with the Knight’s Cross:

The Führer has awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to Feldwebel Alois Lehrkinder, Zugführer in a Grenadier-Regiment.

Feldwebel Alois Lehrkinder was born on the 11.04.1916 in Baden (near Vienna) as the son of winegrower and Gefreiter Franz Lehrkinder, who fell in battle on the Russian front. As a Zugführer in a Grenadier-Regiment from the German Danube Gau, he has contributed significantly to the defensive battles southwest of Orel. After the enemy had penetrated the lines of the left neighbour, Feldwebel Lehrkinder and his Zug went on to fend off all attacks of the overwhelming Soviet forces, partially via counterthrusts. In the process he personally destroyed a tank in close combat. A short while later he was wounded.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Infanterie-Regiment 447