Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 1st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 1st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)

Unit:

Funker 4./ArtRgt 32

Awarded on:

April 18th, 1943

At the end of February 1943, as German troops received the order to evacuate the Demyansk salient, Gefreiter Hackbarth was stationed as a radio operator at a forward observation post when the forward observer himself became a casualty during a heavy defensive battle. In this tricky situation Hackbarth took over the role of forward observer himself, even though he had not been trained to perform this sort of activity. However he managed to overcome this obstacle, directing effective fire from his Batterie and thereby ensuring that the battle position “Heuer”, the left lynchpin of the defensive front, could be held.

During the fighting Hackbarth was buried by nearby shell bursts several times, however he continued to assign appropriate targets to the artillery and in the end was able to foil an enemy breakthrough. For this brave action he would be awarded the Iron Cross First Class, and later the Knight’s Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)

Unit:

4./AR 32

Awarded on:

October 15th, 1944

Posthumously

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)