Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)

Unit:

3./Artillerie-Lehr-Regiment (mot) 5

Awarded on:

February 12th, 1945

Awarded for his actions in the defense of the Festung Schneidemühl, where he and the crew of his Wespe self-propelled gun fought in infantry combat. In the course of the fighting he distinguished himself several times in close combat, and was able to destroy 6 Soviet tanks with Panzerfausts. For this action he was awarded the Iron Cross First Class, and this was later upgraded to the Knight's Cross.