Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 22nd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Stab, Infanterie-Regiment 445, 134. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 25th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 8th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 1st, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, Korps-MG-Bataillon 420, XX. Armee-Korps

Awarded on:

February 18th, 1945

The following press article (dated 29.03.1945) describes why Wolf received the Knight's Cross…

"During a major Bolshevik offensive Hauptmann Werner Wolf (who hails from Satzung in the Erzgebirge) and his MG-Bataillon were positioned in the vicinity of a road and an important road fork. The Bataillon was able to defeat all Soviet attacks, eliminating two small Soviet penetrations via immediate counterthrusts in the process. However new Bolshevik forces managed to break through the positions of the right neighbouring Bataillon, and they proceeded to capture the road fork. With this two Soviet battalions were suddenly in the rear of the German lines.

Hauptmann Wolf recognized the massive danger that this breakthrough presented for the entire defensive front in this sector. He thus made the bold decision to assemble a handful of men from his Bataillon staff and strike against the approximately thirtyfold superior enemy force. The brave Grenadiers (consisting almost exclusively of messengers, clerks and signals personnel of the staff) shot up the Soviets with MGs, hand grenades, machine-pistols and carbines. Panzerfausts fired in close combat tore bloody gaps in the thick ranks of fiercely defending Bolsheviks, throwing them into confusion.

The seemingly unthinkable became reality. Hauptmann Wolf and his handful of men threw the Soviets back and regained control of the road and road fork. He then rebuilt a new defensive line at this position and held it into the night against all breakthrough attempts. Then, after receiving the order to retreat via radio, the Hauptmann led his Kompanien back through a 3 kilometre wide swamp. On the morning of the next day the Bataillon reached friendly lines in a fully battle-ready condition, having brought back all its heavy weapons, its wounded and even war booty in the shape of 4 anti-tank guns and 12 machine-guns.

Hauptmann Wolf's daring initiative and brave employment of his Bataillon had permitted the orderly withdrawal of two friendly Divisionen. He was thus awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for this exemplary performance."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Korps-MG-Bataillon 420

Awarded on:

May 7th, 1945