Kirchlehner, Ernst

Date of birth:: October 17th, 1923 (Vienna, Austria)
Date of death:: July 14th, 1944 (South of Daugavpils, Latvia)
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
Unit:: Gruppenführer 2./Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 126
Awarded on:: October 23rd, 1944

The following press excerpt (dated 19.01.1945) describes why Kirchlehner was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Defending the Hill Alone for Six Hours - The Deed of the Viennese Unteroffizier Kirchlehner:

… In July the 2. Schwadron of the Füsilier-Bataillon was dispatched to attack a commanding hill southwest of Dünaburg that was of great importance for the defense. During this operation Unteroffizier Kirchlehner distinguished himself anew through his outstanding bravery. He would gave an example of true heroic courage up until the time of his death.

Storming at the head of his squad, he fought through the enemy line of resistance in bitter close combat with hand grenades and machine-pistol fire, and he was able to break through despite the superior opposing strength. He was the first to reach the hill. However the enemy struck back with a powerful artillery barrage that was followed up by an immediate counterthrust.

The men gave in to the powerful enemy pressure and temporarily had to pull back. Unteroffizier Kirchlehner was the only one to not fall back under the Soviet counterattack. From the morning until the evening hours he remained at the attained point for a total of six hours, defending as a lone fighter against the coordinated fire of the enemy. Throughout this time the enemy plastered this one man with anti-tank, mortar and heavy machine-gun fire, and they repeatedly launched vain attempts to crush him in close combat with overwhelming superiority.

The hill was later stormed by friendly troops on the evening of the same day thanks to his death-defying stand. He collapsed from exhaustion as his comrades surrounded him. But he swiftly got back onto his feet and once again intervened in the continued combat, dying a hero’s death as he did so…”

Awarded posthumously.