Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

Gruppenführer, 2. Kompanie, Grenadier-Regiment 542, 387. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

June 1st, 1943

Following a Soviet barrage in the sector of the 387. Infanterie-DIvision (near the Donez river) on the 07.05.1943, Obergefreiter Kölbel was forced to take over command of his Kompanie following the death of its commander in the shelling. The Kompanie was relatively green, suffering from both a lack of food and rest, and the men were terrified of any new Soviet attack.

At dawn the next day the noise of MG and mortar fire could be heard. Since no impacts were observed in his sector, Kölbel deduced that the Soviets had attacked the neighbouring unit on the right, which was separated from his Kompanie by a 2 km wide gap in the front that was supposed to be filled by an alarm unit soon.

Realizing the situation, Kölbel did not hesitate. He gathered up his Zugführers and prepared to support his hard pressed comrades on the right. Half of the Kompanie was to fight through the forest and treeless ravine, from which they would engage the Soviets on the right flank from the forest edge. The other half was to infiltrate a few metres into enemy territory with Kölbel and then get around and attack the Soviets from the rear and left flank.

When the counterattack commenced the Soviet spearheads were halted with bloody losses, losing 4 tanks in the process. When the second half of Kölbel’s Kompanie struck the attackers’ right flank the Soviets thought the Germans had moved up emergency units from the rear and retreated at once. Thus the attack of the Soviets was nipped in the bud, and the following day the promised alarm unit filled the gap in the German line.

For his efforts here Kölbel would be decorated with both grades of Iron Cross as well as the Knight’s Cross as one of the oldest enlisted men to be so honoured.