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Ratajczak, Edmund (s.Pz.Abt. 507)

Date of birth:
February 13th, 1916 (Dortmund/Westernphalia, Germany)
Date of death:
October 29th, 1998 (Ratzeburg/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Nationality:
German

Biography

Promotions:
Gefreiter
1940: Unteroffizier
14.04.1943: Feldwebel
10.02.1945: Oberfeldwebel
03.04.1945: Leutnant

Career:
1937: RAD service time with 2/132 - Röwitz
October 1937: joined Panzer-Abteilung 65 - training as radio operator
1939: his tank was shot during the Poland Campaign- Ratajczak was the only survivor (see the booklet "Der Kampf in Polen - Kriegstagebuch der 1./Pz.Abt.65")
1939-1941: took part of the Sudetenland Campaign, the Poland, France and Russia Campaign.
April 1944: training at the Panzerarmeewaffenschule - volunteered to Schwere Panzer Abteilung 507 (Tiger)
He served from the first day of WW2 until 07.04.1945 when he was seriously WIA at Osterode (Harz-Germany) and became blind for some time after he was rescued by his comrade Victor out of his burning tank.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
Awarded on:
May 25th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
6./ Pz.Rgt.11
Awarded on:
June 30th, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
6. Kompanie, II. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 11, 6. Panzer-Division, XXXXVIII. Pz.K., Armee-Abt. Kempf, HGr. Süd
Awarded on:
April 14th, 1943
for outstanding achievement during the campaign in Charkow and Belgorod

According to Patzwall / Scherzer the name is Eilmund.
According to the the Prelimilar Award Document the unit is 6./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 11
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, schwere Panzer-Abteilung 507, XXIII. AK, AOK 2, HGr. Weichsel
Awarded on:
February 10th, 1945
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Recommendation took place on January 25th, 1945.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
6./ Panzer-Regiment 11 "von Hünersdorff"
Awarded on:
August 18th, 1943
in silver
doc signed by the regiment commander Major Dr. Franz Bäke

Silver version
Panzerkampfabzeichen II Stufe
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Awarded on:
September 1939
WIA at Sierakow during the Poland Campaign
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
WIA 19.09.1939, 09.09.1941, 07.04.1945
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1939
in Silver
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

Sources

Photo