Passegger, Johann "Hans"

Date of birth:: July 24th, 1920 (Köflach, Austria)
Date of death:: March 17th, 2001 (Leoben, Austria)
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
Unit:: Fernsprechtruppführer in der Nachrichten-Staffel II./Grenadier-Regiment 480
Awarded on:: August 27th, 1943

Awarded for distinguishing himself during the heavy fighting for the Ssnopot Position in August 1943.

During this time he was attached to an infantry Kompanie in the main battle line, and while serving in this capacity he personally organized the defense against a Soviet attack after the Kompanie commander and all Zugführer had fallen. He ultimately succeeded in this task and threw back the Soviet attack. Later, during a new Soviet flank attack, he took over the machine-gun of a fallen MG crew and used it to separate a group of attacking Soviet infantry from their tank support. By doing so he prevented a hostile breakthrough.