Mühlke, Günter

Date of birth:: February 17th, 1922 (Schneidemühl/Westprussia, Germany)
Date of death:: October 27th, 2003 (Bad Hersfeld/Hesse, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Unit:: Melder, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 959, 363. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: April 14th, 1945

On the 02.03.1945, during a battle to clean up an American bridgehead near Bergheim/Horrem, Mühlke received the order to make contact with a forward command post. Here he met a Leutnant who requested a munition resupply for his Kampfgruppe, which Mühlke was tasked with procuring. After getting 4 cases of MG ammunition, he made his way back to the Kampfgruppe only to find it was no longer there. After taking a short break he suddenly heard American voices behind him. With a mirror he observed a squad of US soldiers jump from the road into the German trenches, afterwards moving towards his position! He had no choice but to fight. After tossing three grenades, he jumped out of the trench with a “Hurra” and engaged the squad with his MPi. He was able to make it to the nearest wood unhurt.

The wood followed a railroad embankment, which he crossed. When he got to the command post, he saw this was also abandoned. However he met up with the Leutnant again near Horrem, who greeted him with the words…

“You have routed the Americans - now we are setting up a new defensive position here!”

For his role in halting the US advance here Mühlke would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.