Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Kompaniechef Aufklärungs-Abteilung 341 (motorisiert)

Awarded on:

December 14th, 1941

Awarded for his decisive contribution in the fighting to seal off the Uman pocket in late 1941. On the 29.07.1941 Hauptmann Kleinschmit personally received the order from his Divisional commander to advance to Talnoje, from which point the division would pivot towards the south. While the rest of the Division struggled through the difficult terrain, Hauptmann Kleinschmit and his Abteilung were able to reach the town by the evening and destroy the withdrawing Soviets there along with a transport train.

At this stage Kleinschmit made the independent decision to continue advancing further south beyond Talnoje in order to secure a bridgehead over a known water obstacle in that direction. His Aufklärungs-Abteilung set out, with Kleinschmit himself behind the first armoured car in his Kübelwagen. En-route to the bridge the lead armoured car swung its MG to the left, pointing out a Soviet column of trucks and armoured cars on a parallel road that would eventually converge with the Abteilung’s own advance route. Fortunately the Abteilung had a 200 metre lead, and got to the road intersection first. With the help of the Abteilung’s Pak guns, the Germans shot up the surprised Soviet column.

After this they pressed on to the bridge itself, and after reaching it they disabled its explosive charges and thus took it in an intact condition. With this action they permitted the Division to carry out its southward advance towards Novo Arkhangelsk and continue creating the ring around the emerging pocket of Soviet troops. Hauptmann Kleinschmit would receive the Knight’s Cross for this decisive act.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)