Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef 3./Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 13

Awarded on:

May 14th, 1941

On the 07.04.1941, during the Balkans campaign, Oberleutnant Schirrmacher was ordered to take elements of his Kompanie and capture the extremely important road bridge south of Bares in a coup de main. Schirrmacher decided to launch the attack at night, and despite the unfavourable weather he was able to cross the swollen Drava river with an assault team and reach the opposite side of the bridge. He quickly got his men into action cutting the demolition lines, while the other parts of his Kompanie simultaneously launched their own attack across the bridge. They were able to take control of the structure undamaged, which would be a crucial development for the rapid advance of the 14. Panzer-Division on towards Agram. For his actions here Schirrmacher would receive the Knight’s Cross.