Göbel, Werner

Date of birth:: May 15th, 1925 (Elberfeld/Rhineprovince, Germany)
Date of death:: March 30th, 1949 (Wuppertal-Elberfeld/Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Unit:: 7. / Grenadier-Regiment 670
Awarded on:: September 30th, 1944

In early September 1944 Soviet forces managed to penetrate the defenses of the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 670, among whose members included Gefreiter Göbel. Recognizing the danger this posed for his unit with lightning speed, he gathered up a handful of Grenadiers around him and rushed to the threatened sector. With skillful bursts of fire and frequent changes of position he was able to bring the attackers to a halt. He then launched a counterthrust of his own with the few men available to him despite the strong Soviet fire, and this inflicted heavy losses on the foe. Following further hard fighting the old German frontline was eventually fully restored.

Göbel would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross for his achievements on this day.