Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

MG-Schütze 7./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66

Awarded on:

December 11th, 1943

Obergefreiter Schleef was a machine-gunner in the 13. Panzer-Division during its battles around Krivoi Rog in late 1943. On the 16.10.1943, following a heavy artillery barrage, the Soviets attacked the positions of Schleef’s Kompanie with two battalions. Though the Kompanie was able to defeat the first attack, they became very hard pressed to stop the subsequent thrusts. The Kompanie commander and all the NCOs eventually were all either killed or wounded, and the Kompanie was pushed back. As the Regiment prepared its own counterattack, Willi Schleef decided to take the initiative and declared to all within earshot…

“Everyone who can hear my command - we are taking back the forward edge of the HKL!”

Schleef stormed forward with his group (about 15-18 Panzergrenadiers), firing from the hip. They were able to push back the Soviets, take those parts of the main line that had been lost and hold their ground until the Regiment was able to launch its own counterattack which finally restored the situation. For this brave act, conducted on his own initiative, Schleef would receive the Knight’s Cross.