Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

Zugführer 10./Infanterie-Regiment 267

Awarded on:

October 25th, 1942

On the night of the 16./17.09.1942 the III./Infanterie-Regiment 267 launched a night attack towards the Stalingrad Theater Square, which was located in the direction of the Volga river. To this end it set out at 23:30 with a strength of just 75 men (excluding the crews of the heavy weapons). Oberfeldwebel Strauss commanded the point Kompanie of this attack, and flank protection on both sides was provided by 12. Kompanie along the roads that led to the Volga.

The Soviets were taken off guard by this night attack, with the result that the Bataillon was able to make good initial progress. However by the morning hours resistance had hardened to the point where Oberfeldwebel Strauss’s spearhead was only able to advance slowly. Theater Square was nonetheless attained by 08:00, and in response the Soviets launched fierce counterthrusts from the direction of the Volga river. However these were all repulsed by the defending German Bataillon.

Correctly recognizing the enemy situation, Oberfeldwebel Strauss now decided to thrust to the Volga without orders from the Bataillon. By 10:30 this decision had resulted in a total success. The III./Infanterie-Regiment 267 was able to report that the Volga had been reached, implying that the Soviet defenders in the city of Stalingrad were now split in two for the first time.

Oberfeldwebel Strauss later received the Knight’s Cross for achieving such an important success.