Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Grenadier (Infantryman)

Unit:

MG-Schütze 4./Grenadier-Regiment 544

Awarded on:

July 25th, 1944

On the 19.07.1944 the 4./Grenadier-Regiment 544 came under attack from strong Soviet forces. At the time a group of German soldiers, including Grenadier Kupfer (a machine gunner at the time), held a resistance nest not far from an important crossroads. 6 Soviet tanks and 60 soldiers forced the handful of Grenadiers here to take cover again and again. Kupfer would however make the most of every pause, firing his MG at the attackers and preventing them from getting close to the position. When a Soviet flamethrower tank came forward to crush the defenders here, it was Kupfer who rendered it harmless with a Panzerfaust.

After over 3 hours of difficult combat many of the defenders had fallen and only Kupfer and an older comrade held onto the MG position. As another Soviet tank attempted to approach the position, Kupfer jumped out of cover and knocked out this hostile vehicle with another Panzerfaust. In the process however he would be wounded in the chest and shoulder. Yet he somehow managed to crawl back to his MG and continue to repel the advancing Soviets. Thus, in spite of his injury, he held on for another 3 hours and was able to repulse every opposing breakthrough attempt.

For his outstanding bravery here he would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross as one of only a very few German soldiers of this rank to be so recognized.