Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

Geschützführer 14./Grenadier-Regiment 7

Awarded on:

October 23rd, 1944

On the 06.08.1944 Soviet infantry with tank support attacked the positions of the heavily weakened 252. Infanterie-Division at Rasein, Lithuania. Obergefreiter Thom, whose Pak gun had been abandoned during the retreat from Soviet forces during Operation Bagration, was forced to take on the attacking armour in close combat. He destroyed two attacking Soviet tanks with Panzerfausts, shortly followed by a third. Due to this the attackers were forced to halt their advance in this sector and pull back. Obergefreiter Thom was thus recommended for and decorated with the Knight's Cross.

Awarded posthumously.