Thiessen, Hans

Date of birth:: November 13th, 1916 (Hamburg/Hamburg, Germany)
Date of death:: February 18th, 1945 (Bartenstein/East Prussia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Führer 2./Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung "Großdeutschland"
Awarded on:: May 9th, 1945

Thiessen's Knight's Cross recommendation reads as follows...

"On the 18.02.1945, following strong preparatory fire, about 5 Soviet divisions with heavy armour support attacked from the Mehlsack area towards the north and northwest. They achieved a substantial penetration into the German lines. To widen their breakthrough, the enemy also attacked to the west along the railway. The 8.8 cm Flak Batterie of Leutnant Thiessen (from Heeres-Flak-Abteilung GD), which was in position between the railroad and the forest, had the mission of holding up the enemy advance until the breakthrough could be sealed off. The battered Panzergrenadier-Regiment 51 was only able to give limited infantry support to the Batterie.

After Leutnant Thiessen had defeated several strong infantry attacks (during which he inflicted heavy losses), the enemy initiated a pincer movement with tanks against the main position of the battery. While 3 tanks suppressed the battery from a range of 2 km, 2 tanks and 2 assault guns would attack the battery from the rear using the forest as cover. After the attack began the enemy covering forces also advanced towards the Batterie.

Aware of the importance of his mission to the integrity of the Division’s sector, Thiessen took up the fight with exemplary calm and resolve. In the bitter battle which followed Thiessen destroyed 2 tanks and 2 assault guns with gunfire, and a further 2 were eliminated with Panzerfausts. The Soviet infantry following the tanks also suffered severe losses and were forced to break off their attack. Thus it was the self-sacrificing attitude of Leutnant Thiessen and his gunners (whose displayed a high sense of duty through their personal valour) that resulted in the enemy being unable to achieve their intended breakthrough. It also meant that the continued retention of the 18. Panzergrenadier-Division's current frontline was enabled.

On the same day, a short while later, Thiessen was killed while briefing a newly subordinated Alarm-Kompanie."

His nomination by the troop was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 19-4-1945 and listed in the book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses) under the sequential number 5147. Major Joachim Domaschk approved the nomination on 21-4-1945, noting "Knight's Cross posthumously, yes". A file card can be found in the record for rejected or unfinished nominations. The file card indicates no further information about further processing or whether the Knight's Cross was awarded. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR) the award was present in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel.