Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 14th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Chef 5. / Panzer-Regiment 5 / Heeresgruppe Afrika

Awarded on:

June 30th, 1941

The following justification was given for Gierga’s receiving the Knight’s Cross…

“On the 16.06.1941 Hauptmann Gierga attacked a large number of heavily armoured English tanks on his own initiative after reaching his ordered attack objective, even though his Panzer-Kompanie was almost out of ammunition and exposed to the strongest enemy fire. All but one of the superior enemy tanks were destroyed at extremely close range with the last available shells. Through this outstanding leadership of the Kompanie, the tank battle at Sollum took a particularly favourable turn.”

According to the communications officer of the II./Panzer-Regiment 5 Hauptmann Gierga rammed his command tank (armed with just a wooden gun) into a Matilda Mark II. tank that was towing another one, and thereafter was able to capture both tanks with their crews (8 men) prisoner.

Submitted on June 18th 1941.
Preliminary document and decoration on July 2nd 1941 to Afrikakorps.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509

Awarded on:

March 2nd, 1944