Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer, 3. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 189, 81. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1945

Zurin’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 08.03.1945 the Bataillon was moved via motor transport to the battle area southeast of Frauenburg. During the following night they occupied a chain of strongpoints between Pilskalni and the graveyard 1 km to the northeast.

Leutnant der Reserve Zurin, Kompanie commander of the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 189, occupied strongpoint ‘Friedhof’ with his Kompanie command post and 1 Zug (the Zug was 3 NCOs and 15 men strong). During the morning hours of the 09.03.1945 the Russians attacked the graveyard with strong forces that had the support of tanks. Their goal was to achieve a breakthrough at this position. Zurin, who had a wealth of experience fighting in the east, led his Kompanie energetically and repeatedly threw back the Russians via determined counterthrusts. He proved to be not just a prudent Kompanie commander, but also a brave fighter with hand grenades, machine-pistol and Panzerfausts.

In barely 1 hour of bitter combat, Zurin destroyed 3 T-34s with Panzerfausts.

The Bolsheviks then launched a successful thrust in the dense forest terrain north of the graveyard. At the same time the Russians achieved a penetration just south of the graveyard and thrust forward from both flanks. By now the Kompanie had sustained heavy losses. Leutnant Zurin, who was presently fighting bitterly for his strongpoint without contact with the Bataillon, made the decision to create a blocking position in the north while personally leading a counterthrust towards the south. Zurin led his counterthrust with only a few men, and his force eventually encountered a new Soviet assembly area with tanks and infantry. Zurin launched a surprise attack that scattered the Bolshevik battlegroup and eliminated a major portion of the hostile infantry. After crushing this flank threat, Zurin continued to smash every hostile penetration and hold his strongpoint until he himself became badly wounded.

The furious Russian breakthrough attempt was thusly checked by Leutnant Zurin’s bold and heroic defence of the forward strongpoint. This action created the necessary conditions for the creation and occupation of a new blocking position between Kerkini and Kolombas.

In all this time Zurin, the soul of resistance of the Kompanie, distinguished himself through his outstanding personal bravery as a fighter as well as his prudent, energetic leadership and decisiveness.”


His nomination was submitted to the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 16-4-1945. Major Joachim Domaschk approved the nomination on 17-4-1945 and forwarded to Wilhelm Burgdorf in Berlin as a HPA nomination carrying the id Nr. 5076 on 18 April. Neither the registry of contemporary nominations, nor the book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses), nor the original nominations contains any evidence of the approval or of the presentation of the award. The nomination remained unprocessed at the end of the war. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR) the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Fellgiebel.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 20th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 16th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 6th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 3rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 1st, 1942

Silver version.