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Radermacher, Karl

Date of birth:
December 12th, 1922 (Aachen/Rhine Province, Germany)
Date of death:
October 9th, 2016 (Kohlscheid - Aachen, Germany)
Nationality:
German

Biography

Promotions:
?: Gefreiter;
?: Obergefreiter;
06.1944: Unteroffizier;
?: Feldwebel;
22.10.1944: Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel;
12.12.1944: Leutnant der Reserve

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
6./ Gren.Reg. 45 - 21. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
December 10th, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
6./ Gren.Reg. 45 - 21. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
February 14th, 1944
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Unit:
Granatwerfertruppführer 6. / Grenadier-Regiment 45
Awarded on:
May 4th, 1944
In early 1944 the Soviets launched an attack that broke through the frontline of Grenadier-Regiment 45, and shortly afterwards they engaged the flank of the Regiment’s II. Bataillon in bitter close combat. After all the officers and NCOs had become casualties, Radermacher took charge of the situation and independently decided to meet the Soviet onslaught with his mortars, as all other attempts at success had failed. Constantly moving his guns to suitable positions, he was able to direct precise and deadly fire into the ranks of the attackers, inflicting high losses. Radermacher then led a counterattack once he judged the time to be right and was able to retake the old German line. In recognition of this success he was decorated with the Knight’s Cross.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
Unit:
Gruppenführer 6. / Grenadier-Regiment 45
Awarded on:
October 21st, 1944
Nahkampfspange in Gold

The decoration was presented ot him by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler personally in the town hall of Ulm on December 12th, 1944.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
Kompanie-Trupp-Führer 6. / Grenadier-Regiment 45 / 21. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
November 27th, 1944
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
6./ Gren.Reg. 45 - 21. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
October 1942
He received the silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
6./ Gren.Reg. 45 - 21. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
1944
Nahkampfspange in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
6./ Gren.Reg. 45 - 21. Infanterie-Division
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
6./ Gren.Reg. 45 - 21. Infanterie-Division
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
6./ Gren.Reg. 45 - 21. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
1943
Nahkampfspange in Bronze

Sources

Photos