Date of birth:

February 22nd, 1914 (Salach/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Date of death:

December 4th, 2008 (Eislingen/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Nationality:

German

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Infanterie-Regiment 56

Awarded on:

June 1st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Infanterie-Regiment 56

Awarded on:

February 27th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

9. / Grenadier-Regiment 61 / 7.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

July 17th, 1943

Award 407/6

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 27th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Kommandeur III. / Grenadier-Regiment 61 / 7.Infanterie-Division / XXXXVI.Panzer-Korps / 2.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

December 15th, 1943

Awarded for his actions between the Dnieper and Pripet rivers. On the 16.10.1943 he and 50 Grenadiers endured heavy Soviet drumfire followed by attacks by a much larger opposing force. Despite these unfavourable odds Eisele and his men held their ground for 12 hours (a period that included close-quarters combat) and only pulled back when a rearward defensive had been completed.

2438th Award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur III. / Grenadier-Regiment 61 / 7.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

December 15th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur III. / Grenadier-Regiment 61 / 7.Infanterie-Division / XX.Armee-Korps / 2.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

January 12th, 1945

The following press article describes why Eisele would be awarded the Oakleaves…

“Major Eisele has distinguished himself in numerous battles through his outstanding bravery and the skillful leadership of his Bataillon, particularly in July 1944 near Pinsk and north of Brest-Litovsk as well as at the end of August / start of September 1944 along the Bug river. In the fighting between the Bug and Narew rivers (the 7. Infanterie-Division received special praise in the Wehrmachtbericht supplement of the 27.08.1944) Eisele’s Bataillon once again was very successful. On the 25.08.1944 the Bug position at the riverbed near Wywloka was held despite the enormous Soviet superiority. Enemy bridgeheads were eliminated via counterthrusts in which Major Eisele was heavily involved. On the 04.09.1944 the Soviets thrusted into the rear of the Grenadier-Regiment 61 with strong infantry forces and 114 tanks. With only 15 men and 2 MGs Major Eisele prevented a deep penetration by the Soviets by sealing the penetration off at a decisive point. In the process he was wounded for the fifth time.”

695th Award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 2000.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Dörr, M., Die Träger der Nahkampfspange in Gold: Heer, Luftwaffe, Waffen-SS – 1943-1945, Biblio Verlag, Bisendorf, Germany, 2006
  - 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
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
  - Scheibert, H., Die Träger des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold (Das Heer), Podzun-Pallas Verlag, Friedberg, Germany, 1983
  - Ritterkreuztraeger 1939 - 1945
  - Lexikon der Wehrmacht