Knaust, Hans-Peter (Schützen-Regiment 4)

Date of birth:: August 7th, 1906 (Kiel/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Date of death:: October 22nd, 1983 (Kevelaer/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

05.03.1924: joined Infanterie-Regiment 4, 2. Division
10.01.1931: promoted to Feldwebel
01.07.1934: Leutnant, transferred to Infanterie-Regiment 5, 2. Division
15.10.1935: Oberleutnant, 8. (MG) Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 27
07.10.1936: Chef, 12. (MG) Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 27, Rostock
00.00.1937: promoted to Hauptmann
10.11.1938: Hauptmann, Chef, 8. (E MG) Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 79, Wahn
00.05.1940: campaign in France
00.06.1941: Kdr, 4. Kradschützen-Bataillon, 6. Panzer-Division
00.10.1941: Kdr, II. Bataillon, Schützen-Regiment 4, 6. Panzer-Division
assault on Moscow
01.12.1941: promoted to Major
00.00.1942: severely WIA in the left shinbone and the right thigh in the village of Timonino, north-west of Moscow and sent to lazarett and amputated
00.01.1943: regimental commander’s course
00.02.1943: Kdr, Panzer-Grenadier-Ausbildungs und Ersatz-Bataillon 64 'Bocholt'
00.09.1944: Kdr, Kampfgruppe, 10. SS-Panzer-Division 'Frundsberg' - battle for the Arnhem bridge then on the Betweue then defense of the village of Elst, Betuwe
00.10.1944: Kdr, Kampfgruppe, 116. Panzer-Division then 9. Panzer-Division
00.11.1944: Kdr, Grenadier-Ersatz-Regiment (motorisiert) 16
00.01.1945: Kdr, Regiment 'Knaust', 490. Infanterie-Division - Teutoburger Wald
18.04.1945: promoted to Oberstleutnant
05.05.1945: captured - British POW
00.05.1946: released

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: May 24th, 1940

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: July 21st, 1940

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: Führer, II. Abteilung, Schützen-Regiment 4, 6. Schützen-Brigade, 6. Panzer-Division
Awarded on:: February 28th, 1942

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1942

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: Kommandeur, Kampfgruppe "Sonnestuhl", II. SS-Panzerkorps
Awarded on:: September 28th, 1944

Awarded for his bravery and achievements during the German defense against Operation Market-Garden, in which he was among the first to put up significant resistance against the allies with an alarm unit.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Regiment "Knaust", 490. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: April 17th, 1945

Awarded for his successes during the defensive battles on the western front in early 1945. His skillful leadership was largely responsible for ensuring that the allied attempt at a breakthrough at the southwest edge of the Teutoburg forest towards Ibbenbüren came to nought, and that a new defensive front could be created here.

Later, during the hard defensive battle on the 05-06.04.1945 at Dreierwalde and Hopsten, counterthrusts personally led by Knaust succeeded in destroying 2 enemy tanks, capturing another 2 and capturing a number of prisoners. Though his prosthetic leg was shot up badly in this fight, he continued to lead his Kampfgruppe and thereby permitted the disengagement of the 15. Panzergrenadier-Division.

843rd Award.
Last formally assigned number in the row of the Eichenlaub.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kdr, Regiment 'Knaust'
Awarded on:: April 18th, 1945

The 490th Infantry Division under the command of Colonel Behrend, awarded with the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, has excelled by showing exemplary steadfastness in the heavy fighting in north-western Germany. The winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Lieutenant Colonel Knaust, regimental commander in this division, has personally particularly distinguished himself in these battles.

Sources

Photo 1: Gerrit-Michael Kannengießer
Photo: G.M. Kannengießer
- FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- GERRITSEN, B. & REVELL, S., Retake Arnhem Bridge, R.N. Sigmond Publishing, Renkum, 2010.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Defending Arnhem
- das-ritterkreuz.de