Nöbel, Kurt

Date of birth:: February 15th, 1917 (Chemnitz/Saxonia, Germany)
Date of death:: February 3rd, 2000 (Voigtsdorf/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Born on 15th February 1917 in Chemnitz, Kurt Nöbel took part in the campaigns in Poland, France and the Soviet Union. He finally reached the rank of Wachtmeister.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Obergefreiter (Corporal)
Unit:: Gruppenführer, 1.(reit.) Kompanie, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 7, 7. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: November 30th, 1943

On the 14.10.1943 the Soviets began carving out a wedge-shaped penetration out of the defensive front of the 7. Infanterie-Division. Four days later Obergefreiter Nöbel received the order to clean up this penetration with a reinforced squad. Thanks to his determination and brilliant tactical skills, he and his troops were able to roll up several hundred meters of hostile trenches while inflicting heavy losses on the Soviets.

As the Soviets prepared to counterattack with strong forces, Nöbel quickly recognized the impending danger. To counter it he launched a lone sally into the opposing positions, single-handedly eliminating two Soviet anti-tank gun crews and penetrating deep into the hostile trench system. However the Soviets were swift to recover, and so Nöbel was forced to fight for every meter of ground in close combat while pulling back to the German line. Yet by these actions the Soviets was sufficiently distracted enough that Nöbel’s Bataillon was able to create a stable defensive line, launch a decisive attack and then hold the reclaimed break-in position against the Soviet attempts to seize it once again

In recognition of his outstanding success here as a lone fighter, Nöbel would receive the Knight’s Cross.