Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

Zugführer 3./Pionier-Bataillon (mot) 3

Awarded on:

March 2nd, 1944

As part of the German attempt to recapture the village of Aprilia on the 09.02.1944, the 3./Pionier-Bataillon (mot) 3 was assigned to Kampfgruppe Schönfeld.

The initial attack, conducted at night in the pouring rain, was a success and the cemetery was retaken from the surprised Allied forces. Further ahead lay the Guardapassi bridge, which was vital for the continued attack on the city. The pioneer Züge led by Leutnant Friedrich and Oberfeldwebel Schubert were tasked with taking this objective, with Schubert's Zug being assigned the bridge itself. He and his men succeeded in storming the bridge, eliminating the defending force and removing the explosive charges on the structure at the last minute. The undamaged bridge thus fell into German hands, which enabled elements of the Grenadier-Regiment 735 and Panzer-Abteilung 103 to push into the city.

Oberfeldwebel Schubert was heavily wounded during this fight, but in recognition of his tactical victory he would receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.