Langenohl, Willy

Date of birth:: April 23rd, 1920 (Lüdenscheid/Westphalia, Germany)
Date of death:: February 2nd, 1998 (Krefeld/Northrhine-Westphalia, Duitsland)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Führer 3. / Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 57
Awarded on:: April 30th, 1945

Leutnant Langenohl was a Pionier Kompanie commander in the 6. Panzer-Division as it was retreating from the Raab river in the Györ area. As he was laying mines about 3 km from the bridge over the river at Györziget, he heard that the ignition wires to the bridge had been severed and the demolition troop captured. In order to prevent strong enemy tank forces from interfering with the Division’s withdrawal, Langenohl immediately took a motorcycle and drove to within a kilometre of the bridge. He then worked his way towards the bridge under heavy enemy fire, and once there successfully repaired the ignition wires. He then blew the bridge for good.

For accomplishing this important task all in the midst of the enemy, Langenohl would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.