Schacht, Gerhard "Eule" (Fallschirmjäger)

Fortress Eben-Emael

Date of birth:: April 6th, 1916 (Berlin-Steglitz, German Empire)
Date of death:: February 7th, 1972 (Dortmund, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Fallschirmschützenabzeichen der Luftwaffe

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Sturmgruppe "Beton", Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung “Koch”, 7. Flieger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:: May 12th, 1940
Awarded for:: Operation Fall Gelb

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Sturmgruppe "Beton", Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung “Koch”, 7. Flieger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:: May 12th, 1940
Awarded for:: Operation Fall Gelb

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Sturmgruppe "Beton", Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung “Koch”, 7. Flieger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:: May 12th, 1940
Awarded for:: Operation Fall Gelb

Awarded for the leadership of Sturmgruppe “Beton” during the German airborne attack on the Low Countries on 10.05.1940. His unit was assigned the capture of the bridge over the Albert Canal at Vroenhoven. Landing at 05:15, Schacht and his men were able to capture the bridge intact, hold until the relief by friendly infantry later that day and take 300 enemy soldiers prisoner. All this was accomplished with the loss of just 4 dead and 6 wounded.