Rode, Werner
- Date of birth:
- November 6th, 1912 (Dortmund/Westphalia, Germany)
- Date of death:
- November 2nd, 2002 (Dortmund/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
- Nationality:
- German
Biography
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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Chef, 2. Kompanie, Kradschützen-Bataillon 34, 4. Panzer-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- September 17th, 1941
Oberleutnant Rode decided to take matters into his own hands. He was at the head of his Kompanie as they began climbing over the ruins of the bridge. By the time the Soviets were alerted the Germans were already starting to eliminate the bunkers on the far bank, and this line of defenses was soon cleared. The Germans then overran the second line of defense, and after this Oberleutnant Rode made a beeline at full speed towards the long wooden bridge over the marshland before the Soviets could blow it up. After an exhausting run he was able to make it there in the nick of time to sever the already burning detonation chord before it set off the charges.
The newly-conquered bridge was successfully held against counterattacks thanks to the arrival of the Schützen regiments from the north, and the Dnieper bridge was swiftly repaired. For his role in conquering the crossings that were vital for the continued advance of the Panzers, Rode would receive the Knight’s Cross.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- 2. Kompanie, Kradschützen-Bataillon 34, 4. Panzer-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- July 28th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Major
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 394, 3. Panzer-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- May 7th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- July 10th, 1941
Sources
- Photo 1: Willi Schumacher
- - DEBUS, ARNO, Die Ritterkreuzträger der 4. Panzer-Division: 1939 - 1945, Selbstverl. des Hrsg., 2011.
- FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- Scheibert, Horst. Die Träger der Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und der Waffen-SS/ Die Träger der Ehrentaffelspange der Kriegsmarine/ Die Inhaber des Ehrenpokals für Besondere Leistung im Lukftkrieg. Friedberg, Ger.: Podzun-Pallas Verlag, 1986, ISBN 3-7909-0283-7
- Axis History Forum via Awardholders / unit
- forum.balsi.de
Photo
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