Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Heeresunteroffiziersschule Treptow-Rega

Awarded on:

November 1st, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter

Unit:

9. / Infanterie-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

February 19th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter

Unit:

9. / Infanterie-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

April 1st, 1942

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

11. / Grenadier-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

August 18th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

11. / Grenadier-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1943

Received for a single wound inflicted on 6th April 1944.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

1. / Grenadier-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

June 23rd, 1943

Anerkennung für 17 Scharfschützenerfolge Tagesbefehl Nr. 82 der 215. Infanteriedivision

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

11. / Grenadier-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

11. / Grenadier-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

April 12th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer 11. / Grenadier-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

May 17th, 1944

For his actions on the battlefield near Krapiwinka from 2nd until 4th April 1944.

Anerkennungsurkunde led to the awarding of the Ehrenblattspange.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer 11. / Grenadier-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

May 17th, 1944

For his actions on the battlefield near Krapiwinka from 2nd until 4th April 1944.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

7. / Grenadier-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

August 20th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef 7. / Grenadier-Regiment 435

Awarded on:

September 21st, 1944

The following newspaper article (dated 03.10.1944) describes why Wenz received the Knight’s Cross…

“During the hard combat south of Riga the Bolsheviks achieved a penetration in the lines of our bridgehead at Bauske. A Württemberg-Baden Grenadier-Bataillon was dispatched for a counterattack. In the heavy enemy fire all the officers of the Bataillon fell out save for the 24 year-old Oberleutnant Alfred Wenz (from Berghausen, near Karlsruhe). At this point he had not yet fully recovered from his last wound, and was only back at the front on account of his own wish. Now he took over leadership of the Bataillon.

Strong Bolshevik fire ceaselessly hammered the ranks of the Grenadiers. However Oberleutnant Wenz personally intervened wherever his attack came to a halt. He gave individual squads instructions for continuing the attack and directed the Bataillon’s crossing over a river. Then he was once again in the foremost line, inspiring the Grenadiers forward. His men inflicted heavy losses on the foe and had pushed them back a considerable distance by the time darkness fell.

Yet the right neighbouring Bataillon was unable to maintain the same rate of advance under the Bolshevik’s defensive fire. Oberleutnant Wenz realized that his Bataillon’s success might be compromised if the Bolsheviks were not also thrown back in the neighbouring sector. Although the day’s efforts had severely sapped his strength (his old wound caused him pain with every movement), he decided to act. He took control of 10 Grenadiers and assailed the Bolshevik positions. Although the defenders had plenty of automatic weapons on hand he was able to roll up the enemy line over a 800 metre distance during the course of a ferocious two-hour struggle. His Grenadiers captured 21 machine guns over the course of swirling close combat and inflicted heavy losses on the foe. Their commander personally captured 17 prisoners. Only small numbers of Soviet riflemen were able to escape.

After this supreme effort the strong of the young officer finally gave out. A messenger supported him as he painstakingly limped back to his Bataillon. But during the night he did not allow himself any respite. He oversaw the defense against the enemy counterattacks that were swiftly set into motion, and he remained on his feet until he was able to hand over command of the Bataillon the next morning.”

Preliminary award document dated on 25th September 1944.