Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Pionier-Zugführer Stabskompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 274

Awarded on:

April 6th, 1944

In early 1944 Leutnant Mann and his Pionierzug (at a strength of 17 men) received the order to close the gap between the I. and II./Grenadier-Regiment 274. As he approached the position however he noticed that the Allies had also realized its existence, and had in the meantime already began to advance into it. Acting on his own initiative, he attacked these hostile forces in the flank, throwing them back while taking 20 British troops prisoner. After prisoner statements revealed that 3 battalions were preparing to attack, Leutnant Mann launched a new thrust against the Allied assembly area and took the commanding Hill 146.

In response the Allies tried everything to retake this important hill. Over the course of one and a half days they struck a total of 9 times. After the Pioniers had run out of ammunition they resorted to firing with captured MGs and mortars while also employing captured British grenades. After only 5 men were left Leutnant Mann (himself wounded) sent a wounded squad leader back to report to the regimental command post. With his remaining 3 soldiers he then continued to fend off further hostile attacks until relieved by a hastily deployed Grenadier-Kompanie.

For his bitter defense of the hill, which resulted in the frustrating of the Allied attempt to exploit a German weakness, Leutnant Mann would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.