Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)

Unit:

Krad-melder in Stab Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 81 / 81. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 15th, 1944

Near the end of February 1944 the 1./Füsilier-Bataillon 81 set up an all-round defense on Hill 169.8, in order to prevent a rapid Soviet breakthrough between Lake Volos and Lake Bereo. Gefreiter Twillemeier, a messenger in the battalion staff, drove for four days back and forth between the encircled Kompanie and the Bataillon command post through enemy lines, running the gauntlet of infantry and artillery fire each time. Through this he was able to deliver messages of decisive importance, as well as permit the continued fire support of the defenders on the hill. In one last ride Twillemeier was badly wounded by a salvo of Soviet artillery fire, but by then his actions had been taken note of and he received the Knight's Cross while in hospital.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)