Date of birth:

October 15th, 1922 (Ofzenitza, Austria-Hungary)

Date of death:

June 15th, 1990 (Weinstadt-Endersbach/Waiblingen, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

Romanian

Promotions:
SS-Rottenführer
SS-Unterscharführer
SS-Oberscharführer

Romanian Army veteran
00.00.1943: transferred into the Waffen-SS

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 25th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Bronze version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 27th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 27th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 15th, 1944

Awarded following the destruction of two tanks in close combat during the battle of Sinimäe

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS- Rottenführer (Corporal)

Unit:

Fernsprechtruppführer, II. Bataillon, (niederländische) SS-Freiwilliges-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 49 "De Ruyter"

Awarded on:

November 16th, 1944

In the late summer of 1944, as the Narva front was pushed further into Estonia, SS-Rottenführer Strapatin found himself on standby near a friendly vehicle park when he became aware of an imminent hostile presence. Knowing the catastrophe that would result from the loss of so many vehicles, he rallied his nearby comrades and led them into battle against the attacking Soviets. After Strapatin had personally destroyed 2 Soviet tanks with the Panzerfaust (raising his total of destroyed tanks to 4), he and his group were able to defeat the accompanying Red Army infantry.

The Soviet attack was repulsed, and as a result of his actions not only was the vehicle park saved from destruction, but also a nearby Bataillon command post. For this decisive success Strapatin was awarded the Knight's Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Igor Poul
• Photo 2:
• - HUß, JÜRGEN & SONDERMANN, HEINZ-WERNER, Ritterkreuzträger im Mannschaftsstand 1941-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, 2009.
  - Bender R.J., Breyette T., Tank Killers, RJ Bender Publications, 2000, ISBN 0-912138-83-1
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9