Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 14th, 1949

Recommendation:
He has distinguished himself in combat against the enemy by exceptionally courageous and tactful deeds in the early morning of May 10, 1940, as commander of the Guards Company of Ockenburg auxiliary airbase after enemy troops in transport aircraft and parachutists had landed on and around the airbase in overwhelming numbers and heavily armed. Although he had immediately been injured on his right hand he encouraged and urged his men, who had been in service for just three months by words and his personal example to stand fast under continuous heavy enemy fire, also from aircraft and repeatedly exposing himself to hostile fire in order to keep the enemy encircled on the airbase for two hours in which he eventually succeeded at the loss of 43% of the company's strength in dead and wounded.
In doing so he prevented the enemy in large measure from breaking out in the direction of The Hague, making possible the capture of the airbase later on. In the unequal battle, he eventually died at the head of his unit.

Awarded posthumously