Geppert, Erich

StuG III Sturmgeschütz

Date of birth:: December 31st, 1912 (Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany)
Date of death:: February 8th, 1966 (Neudorf/Schleswick-Holstein, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Erich Geppert finally reached the rank of Hauptmann.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:: Führer 3. / Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 209
Awarded on:: April 14th, 1943

Awarded for his actions in early 1943, a time in which his Abteilung in conjunction with the 19. Panzer-Division was involved in heavy combat to slow down the enemy forces advancing through the approximately 350 km frontline gap between Voronezh and Voroshilovgrad. Among such achievements included the following incidents…

1) Assisting the escape of the encircled 298. Infanterie-Division during the middle of January.

2) The attack on Nowopskoff. Here Geppert’s Batterie, together with the 7./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 73, captured the important bridge over the Aire on the 20.01.1943. By this the road the enemy was using to advance westwards was blocked.

3) Liberating encircled elements of the 19. Panzer-Division with his Batterie in the Nowo Krassnjenka - Shilowka area. Geppert’s Sturmgeschütze opened up escape routes for their encircled brethren on two separate occasions in the same night, first at Kremenaja and later at Rubeschnaja. By this the bulk of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 73, the Panzerpionier-Bataillon 19 and various supply troops were saved from destruction.