Syrowy, Jan

Date of birth:: January 7th, 1922 (Mewe Krs. Marienwerder/West Prussia, Germany)
Date of death:: 1946 (Bromberg/Posen, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
Unit:: Zugführer, 3. Schwadron, Kavallerie-Regiment 32, 3. Kavallerie- Division, Heer
Awarded on:: April 30th, 1945

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

“On the 11.03.1945 the Regiment was assigned the task of creating a bridgehead over the Sio Canal. During the pre-morning hours the Abteilung launched a night attack that reached the Russians’ stoutly defended position along the Sio Canal following bitter combat. Although the Abteilung’s Schwadronen had been badly battered during the course of the night attack, they nonetheless were given the mission of creating a bridgehead over the canal during the early morning hours.

Unteroffizier Syrowy (of the point Schwadron) volunteered to be the first to cross the canal with 3 men and an assault craft. He and his troop managed to reach the opposite bank under heavy artillery, anti-tank and mortar fire. The crossing was spotted by 2 enemy anti-tank guns that were located 150 metres from the river’s edge. The debarkation point therefore came under immediate heavy fire, and this made any reinforcement of the lodgement an impossible proposition.

Unteroffizier Syrowy recognized this danger, and so he snuck up to the first anti-tank gun with 1 man. He took it out with hand grenades in a close combat brawl before bringing up his MG crew immediately afterwards. Personally taking up this MG, he then sprang to the next anti-tank gun position with a cry of ‘Hurra’. He killed 3 men with this MG whilst firing from the hip and also captured 2 prisoners.

At first the enemy tried to bypass him under the protection of heavy artillery and mortar fire. However, with a great effort of will, he managed to bring his MG squad into a position that enabled it to halt this attack with devastating fire. The Russians’ subsequently launched a frontal attack with about 50 men in order to regain their lost position. However Unteroffizier Syrowy swiftly perceived the critical situation, and he rushed back to the anti-tank gun position. He personally brought this gun to bear against the enemy and managed to smash their attack whilst inflicting bloody losses. After the gun had been eliminated additional elements of the Schwadron were brought across the canal. Before the enemy could launch another attack the newly arrived Zug had reinforced Syrowy’s position.

The exemplary courage, prudent leadership and daredevilry that Syrowy displayed here were the deciding factors that enabled this crossing point to be expanded. This in turn enabled the Division to create a bridgehead over the Sio canal in the area northwest of Szabadhidveg.

I hold Unteroffizier Syrowy as one who is especially worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.”