Pitschmann, Karl

Date of birth:: August 20th, 1917 (Straußnitz/Bohemia, Austria)
Date of death:: March 19th, 1944 (Near Kovel/Ukrainian SSR, USSR)
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

When Karl Pietschman was born on August 20th, 1917, his place of birth Straussnitz was part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. After the First World War, the place was part of the newly formed state of Czechoslovakia. Pietschmann was part of the German language minority in that region.

Karl was the son of the farmersfamily of Karl and Anna Peitschmann, a family with seven children. After his school, he worked as an assistent salesman end joined the SA. In 1938 he entered the Werhmacht and was placed with the V. / Infanterie-Regiment 57 / 9.Infanterie-Division.

With this unit he took part in the May/June 1940 campaign in the West and form 1941 at the Eastern Front. Later he was send to the Stabskompanie. He was killed in action on March 19th, 1944.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:: Führer, Regiments-Pionier-Zug, Grenadier-Regiment 57, 9. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: June 9th, 1944

During the retreat of the 9. Infanterie-Division from the Panther Line in April 1944 the Soviets initiated a ruthless pursuit. On the road Stolpyno - Nowo Kasimirowka a group of about 300 Soviet soldiers managed to get within 80 metres of the retreat route, which was clogged with over 100 supply and gun-towing trucks of the Division that were trying to reach the river crossing point at Masslowa. A panic ensued, which was only brought back under control by pistol-toting officers. They stopped the flight and assembled the troops there for defense. With these hastily assembled forces a counterattack was launched against the Soviet troops with support from the unlimbered guns on the road. It succeeded in pushing them back about 1.5 km, and this line was later held until all the trucks and guns could be evacuated.

During this crisis Feldwebel Pietschmann had a major share in the successful outcome through his energetic leadership and personal bravery. On his own initiative he launched a flanking attack with the few unwounded men of his Zug that succeeded in inflicting heavy losses on the Soviets. For this he would be awarded the Knight’s Cross.

Awarded posthumously.
According to Fellgiebel the surname is written as Pietschmann.