Millonig, Franz

Date of birth:: October 2nd, 1914 (Villach, Austria)
Date of death:: January 14th, 1942 (Schachowskaja, Soviet Union)
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

Franz Millonig was reported missing since January 14th, 1942. At tha moment he served as Kompaniechef with the rank of Hauptmann.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:: Führer 1. / Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 57
Awarded on:: December 18th, 1944

On the 10.09.1941, during in the preparatory stages of an attack on the outer fortifications around Leningrad, an assault group led by Oberleutnant Millonig was decimated in its assembly area by Soviet mortar fire. Despite this, and the fact that the German artillery had not yet fired off an artillery barrage, Millonig decided it was best to launch an attack immediately. Following bitter close combat, and heavy casualties to his own unit, Millonig’s troop was able to break into the Soviet positions. With only 6 men, now covered by his own artillery, he then managed to destroy 11 Soviet bunkers. Some of these had armoured cupolas.

By the conclusion of the day’s fighting the Germans had captured 17 enemy guns, 320 prisoners, 12 gun and 94 MG bunkers. Oberleutnant Millonig and his men had a significant share in this victory, and in recognition of this he would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.