Schneider-Kostalski, Ferdinand

Date of birth:: July 20th, 1908 (Judenburg (Steiermark), Austria-Hungary)
Date of death:: August 7th, 1944 (Bellefontaine, Dove, France)
Buried on:: German War Cemetery Champigny-St.-André
Plot: 4. Row: 5. Grave: 450.
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

Career:
Panzer Abteilung 33
11.1938-11.1941: served in the 3. Panzer Division
09.1939: chef 2./ I./ Panzer Regiment 6
1941: Kdr III./ Panzer Regiment 6
08.1942-01.1943: served in the 29. Infanterie Division (mot.)
10.-07.1944: served in the Panzer Regiment 39
07.-08.1944: served in the 2. Panzer Division

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:: Kommandeur III./ Panzer-Regiment 6 - 3. Panzer Division
Awarded on:: July 9th, 1941

The following press excerpt (dated 02.08.1941) describes why Schneider-Kostalski was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

… He distinguished himself on the 22.06.1941 as an Abteilung commander in a Panzer-Regiment. On this day, since the bridge over the Muchawiec was totally destroyed, he scouted out and discovered a crossing point over which his Abteilung was able to cross. This was of decisive importance for the advance against Kobryn. During the continued forward march he and his Abteilung destroyed a large number of tanks and captured numerous artillery pieces and anti-tank guns. Hauptmann Schneider-Kostalski created the necessary conditions for his Division’s swift forward march through his personal devotion to duty and bravery…”