Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 3rd, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

5. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 516, 295. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 8th, 1942

Award 249/15.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 534, 384. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

March 15th, 1943

Fabian’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Starting on the 09.02.1943 the Division began withdrawing as ordered from the Donez to the Mius, all while having to endure difficult night marches and rearguard actions.

In this context the divisional reserve, the III./Gr.Rgt. 534 commanded by Oberleutnant Fabian, began a march movement at around 15:00 on the 16.02.1943 from Nikolajewskij via Jassinowkshij to Gustafeld. Over the course of this movement the difficult road conditions (namely sticky snow) almost claimed the last remaining bits of strength from this unit, which had already endured an uninterrupted rhythm of marching and fighting in the previous days.

Arriving in Gustafeld at around 03:30 on the 17.02.1943, it was just a half hour later when the Bataillon was once again ordered back onto its feet. It was to help restore a difficult situation on the Division’s right sector along the line Alexejewka—Nowo Nadeshda that had been caused by an enemy penetration.

The III./Gr.Rgt. 534 was subordinated to Grenadier-Regiment 535. It’s assigned mission was to close the frontline gap between Alexejewka and Nowo Nadeshda, located opposite the enemy-occupied village of Alexejewka. Elements of Sicherungs-Regiment 177 and a Zug of the Pionier-Bataillon 384 were located in Alexandrowka, with elements of Pionier-Bataillon 336 occupying the northern edge of Nowo Nadeshda. While the Bataillon was marching out of Gustafeld in its individual Kompanien, the aforementioned troops of the Pionier-Bataillon 336 came under attack by an enemy force consisting of 1-2 companies (which were supported by mortars, heavy machine-guns and Katyushas), and immediately found themselves under heavy pressure.

Given the wider combat situation of the Division, Oberleutnant Fabian realized that the fulfillment of his mission would not do any good unless the debacle in Nowo Nadeshda was stabilized. Therefore, Oberleutnant Fabian deviated from his mission on his own initiative. He sent a Kompanie with about 60 men to the already wavering front of the Pionier-Bataillon 336. These reinforcements brought the enemy attack to a halt and in doing so restored a critical situation.

Oberleutnant Fabian sent a patrol to make contact with the friendly forces in Alexandrowka, and then suggested to the commander of the Grenadier-Regiment 535, Major Burgsthaler, that an attack should be launched against the southern part of Nowo Nadeshda. The Regiment issued orders for the attack. After the capture of Nowo Nadeshda it was intended that a further attack against Alexejewka and the not yet destroyed bridge over the Mius (located on the southeastern edge of Alexejewka) would be launched.

The assault preparations had not yet been completed when elements of the 23. Panzer-Division launched an attack from Alexandrowka in the direction of Alexejewka at around 10:00. Oberleutnant Fabian did not know what this attack was intended to accomplish, as the patrol he had sent out had not yet returned.

Oberleutnant Fabian was faced with the following situation:

The only available unit was the Kompanie that was already located on the northern edge of Nowo Nadeshda. Yet even this unit was extremely exhausted due to the 35+ km march that began on the afternoon of the 16.02.1943. No heavy weapons were currently in position either. Nonetheless Oberleutnant Fabian decided to take advantage of the attack of the 23. Panzer-Division. Leading at the head of his exhausted Kompanie, which was motivated to attack by his example, he dashed through the enemy mortar fire and ejected the toughly defending enemy from Nowo Nadeshda without any friendly losses. He then thrust forwards against the still intact bridge and blew it up.

This bold and decisive deed eliminated the enemy in Nowo Nadeshda, tied down the enemy on the northern and eastern edge of Alexejewka and majorly facilitated the attack of the 23. Panzer-Division. By capturing the southern edge of Nowo Nadeshda the village of Alexejewka was compromised from the east, with the result that the enemy forces which were fleeing from Alexejewka could be wiped out.

In the wider situational context, these swift and courageous actions prevented the enemy from firmly establishing himself in a key position of the Division, something which would have significantly disrupted the occupation of the Mius position. As the exhausted Bataillon would only have been ready to attack at 12:00 at the earliest, the success of such an assault at this stage would have been questionable given the development of events.

However the crisis was not yet over. At about 09:00 on the 18.02.1943 the enemy took advantage of a thick smokescreen to push his forces towards the frontline northeast of Nowo Nadeshda. He broke through this line, advanced towards the west and occupied the elongated eastern part of Nowo Nadeshda. The western part of the village was only held by the III./Gr.Rgt. 534 and its commander with great difficulty, as the enemy was already attacking from the rear and had occupied the northwestern houses of Nowo Nadeshda.

On the morning of the 19.02.1943 the enemy reinforced their troops in the eastern part of Nowo Nadeshda with additional forces. This force would eventually swell to include the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 1051st Rifle-Regiment and the 3rd battalion of the 1049th Rifle Regiment, a total of about 700 men. After an excellent round of preparation, Oberleutnant Fabian and his troops stormed the eastern part of Nowo Nadeshda at 14:30 in conjunction with other elements of the Division. Only minimal losses were taken. By this action the situation was once again restored, this time for good.

During the fighting in Nowo-Nadeshda on the 19.02.1943 the enemy lost over 100 dead and 46 prisoners. 4 field guns (7.62 cm), 7 anti-tank guns, 1 AA gun and numerous MGs/small-arms were also captured in this engagement.

The independent resolve of Oberleutnant Fabian, as well as the way he was able to inspire his deathly-tired soldiers, was ultimately of major importance. Already by the evening of the 16.02.1943 the enemy had secured a bridgehead that was occupied by tanks and supported by the undamaged bridge in Alexejewka. Fabian’s actions prevented the enemy from capitalizing on this success by rolling up the frontline from the south and breaking through the Mius position along a broad front with the support of simultaneous attacks in the sector of the left neighbouring Division.”

1602nd Heer Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment (motorisiert) 361, 90. Panzergrenadier-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 9th, 1944

The following press article, dated 12.07.1944, describes why Fabian would be awarded the Oakleaves…

“Hauptmann Fabian was the acting commander of a motorized Grenadier-Regiment when the enemy offensive against the western sector of the German front in Italy was unleashed. The enemy repeatedly came against the positions of the Regiment with vastly superior numbers and a tremendous superiority in materiel. However they could not break through at any point no matter what they tried. When the situation came to a head on the late afternoon of the fifth attack day, and the German front had to be pulled back slightly to the north in one sector, it was primarily to the credit of the 26 year-old regimental commander that this retreat movement was carried out in order and according to plan. Hauptmann Fabian built up a Kampfgruppe from the hard pressed frontline and launched an energetic counterattack against the ever-oncoming enemy. In the process he inflicted heavy losses (including 11 tanks destroyed) and drove the foe back to his jump-off position. This brought relief to the German forces in this area even beyond the zone of Fabian’s regiment, and enabled them to pull back from the enemy unmolested.”

522nd Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)