Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer II./Grenadier-Regiment 1095

Awarded on:

October 31st, 1944

The following press article describes the Knight’s Cross action of Oberleutnant Hentschel…

“The brave son of our home honoured — With 25 men against two Soviet infantry battalions:

Northwest of Tauroggen a German Grenadier regiment received the order to withdraw. However as this movement began to take place, the Bolsheviks thrusted into the formation with two battalions and threatened to tear apart the coherence of the German front. Oberleutnant Hentschel, commander of the left-wing Bataillon, recognized the impending danger of a breakthrough and furthermore that, if the enemy were not thrown back beyond his jump-off position, it would be impossible for the Division to withdraw unimpeded.

With only 25 Grenadiers, the garrison of the first trench, he made a swift decision to counterattack against the vastly superior enemy. Following bitter close combat he was able to push them back over 2.5 km until they were back in their jump-off point. In the process 10 enemy MGs were captured and bloody losses were inflicted on the Soviets. The Division, on the other hand, was able to carry out its ordered withdrawal movement without hindrance thanks to the decisive intervention of the brave Bataillon commander. Oberleutnant Hentschel was awarded the Knight’s Cross by the Führer for this deed.

This son of our district has shown soldierly courage and daring in an outstanding way, and now wears the highest German medal for bravery, the Knight’s Cross.

Oberleutnant Hentschel was born on the 26.09.1912 in Hohenleina (now a suburb of Krostitz), within the Delitzsch district. At the moment he lives in Radeberg, Saxony.”