Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)

Unit:

Geschützführer 2./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 667

Awarded on:

August 13th, 1943

On 09.08.1943 the Soviets launched an attack on the right wing of Grenadier-Regiment 468, northwest of Nadezhda, and succeeded in breaking into the German defences. Their advance was sealed off, but a platoon of Sturmgeschütze from 2./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 667 was sent to help the infantry recapture the lost territory.

Leaving the gun of Unteroffizier Stier on the right wing as security, the platoon commander drove with the other two Sturmgeschütze of the platoon to the left wing of the regiment. En-route however they bottomed out in some soft ground and were immobilized. Unfortunately it was at this exact moment the Soviets launched a major attack against the left wing of the regiment, which quickly gave way. The result was that the attacking Soviets were able to bypass the German defences in the centre and envelop it from the rear, a move which encircled the two battalion command posts of the regiment as well as the two bogged Sturmgeschütze. The platoon commander informed his company HQ via radio that the guns would have to be blown up as their recovery was now impossible. Stier, however, had listened in on the conversation and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Rallying some nearby infantry, he attacked through heavy artillery and infantry fire and succeeded in breaking through to the rest of his platoon. He dismounted his gun and organized the recovery of the two stuck Sturmgeschütze by using his own vehicle to pull them out. Despite being under enemy fire, he was able to succeed in doing so. The enemy tried to destroy the Sturmgeschütze while they were still vulnerable, but now Stier took up the fight and shot up 5 enemy tanks, similarly routing their escort infantry.

By now the other two Sturmgeschütze were now ready for battle, and taking advantage of the enemy's vulnerability the German grenadiers supported by the Sturmgeschütze were able to recapture their old positions after a tough battle.

For his critical role in deciding this engagement in the Germans' favour, Stier received the Knight's Cross.