Both, Paul

Date of birth:: March 3rd, 1911 (LübeckSchleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Date of death:: August 12th, 1944 (Metz/Lorraine, France)
Buried on:: German War Graves Warnemünde
Plot: K. Grave: 23.
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Paul Both was killed during an air raid on August 12th, 1944. He was posthumously promoted to Leutnant der Reserve.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Feldwebel der Reserve
Unit:: Zugführer, 3. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 411, 122. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: December 23rd, 1942

During the late October of 1942 Feldwebel Both and his Zug were charged with defending the strongpoint “Chapel Mountain”, located in Pustynja (southeast of Lake Ilmen). During this time Both and his men successfully defended against an attack by a much larger Soviet force, and although Both himself became wounded in the fight he managed to execute a bold counterthrust that ejected the broken-in hostile forces. On the 29.10.1942 Both also led the defense here against a second Russian attack despite his injuries. By 23:00 on this day all the locations within Pustynja were firmly in the hands of the Regiment’s Grenadiers.

Both was subsequently awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions here.