Völkel, Helmut Franz (GJR 91)

Date of birth:: June 17th, 1914 (Waldenburg/Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:: October 26th, 1942 (Sancaro-Paß, Soviet Union)
Buried on:: German War Cemetery Krasnodar-Apscheronsk
Grave: UNK.
Nationality:: German

Biography

17.10.1942 (VDK) or 26.10.1942: WIA - DOW Geb.Sanko. 2/94 H.V.Pl., Pkt. 1564 Niederdorf, Kaukasus

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:: Zugführer, 6. Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 91, 4. Gebirgs-Division
Awarded on:: November 13th, 1942

At the end of September 1942 Völkel's unit was fighting in the High Caucasus, and in the course of a scouting mission he and his attached soldiers were able to secure a favourable assembly area for his Bataillon after a hard climb. In the ensuing attack (directed against a 3260 m high peak) he was one of the first to reach the mountaintop and eject the occupying Soviet force in bitter close combat. However in the course of the fighting he was severely wounded and succumbed to his injuries. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross.

Awarded posthumously.