Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

Gruppenführer 5./Pz.Füs.Rgt. "GD"

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1944

On the 01.09.1944 Obergefreiter Sachs and his squad had the mission of destroying Soviet forces hiding in the forest. As they advanced they discovered a Red Army assembly area with infantry and tanks. Without hesitating, they charged into the hostile group, dispersing it and destroying one tank in close combat. Taking advantage of their momentum. the squad pressed on and came across a Soviet supply column. They finished off another 15 Soviets in close combat and captured the remaining men and materiel in this column, which included many Studebaker trucks with both food and ammunition.

Interrogation from prisoners revealed that more Soviet rear-echelon units were nearby, and so the Germans pressed on. After they had reached a fork in the road they came under attack by a full Soviet company. In a furious action, Obergefreiter Sachs and his squad managed to crush the attackers, and counted a total of 25 enemy dead, 18 wounded, 2 mortars, 1 HMG, 3 LMGs and numerous small arms remaining on the battlefield.

For achieving so much, with so little and in such a short time, Sachs would receive the Knight’s Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)