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König, Alfons

Date of birth:
December 29th, 1898 (Munich/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:
July 8th, 1944 (Rogatschew-Babruysk/Mahilyow Oblast, Belarus)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

1916 Kriegsfreiwilliger
1919 Gefreiter
1923 Obergefreiter
1928 Feldwebel
1937 Leutnant d. R.
1939 Oberleutnant d. R.
1941 Hauptmann d. R.
1943 Major d. R.
1944 Oberstleutnant d. R.
1944 Oberst d. R. posthumously

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 12th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:
Chef 6. / Infanterie-Regiment 199 / 57.Infanterie-Division / XXXXIII.Armee-Korps / 9.Armee / Heeresgruppe B
Awarded on:
December 21st, 1940
The following newspaper excerpt (dated 24.02.1943) describes why König received the Knight’s Cross…

“Hauptmann König… was awarded the Knight’s Cross already on the 21.12.1940 for his defense against strong enemy armoured attacks that were aimed at the Abbeville bridgehead position at the beginning of June 1940.”

254th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
Unit:
Kommandeur III. / Grenadier-Regiment 217 / 57.Infanterie-Division / VII.Armee-Korps / 2.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte
Awarded on:
February 21st, 1943
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
The following newspaper excerpt (dated 24.02.1943) describes why König received the Oakleaves…

“… After our forces had completed the evacuation of Voronezh the enemy repeatedly tried to use their numerically superior forces to interdict and disrupt the orderly withdrawal movements of the Kampfgruppe that Hauptmann König’s Grenadier-Bataillon. Hauptmann König broke through the Soviet encirclement attempts with his Kampfgruppe a total of 3 times over the course of 9 days. Throughout this time the men of the Kampfgruppe were inspired by the exemplary personal bravery of the commander, who fought with a weapon in hand and stormed at the head of his Grenadiers. Because of this the Kampfgruppe was able to establish contact with the main body of friendly forces after three weeks of ferocious breakthrough and defensive combat.”

194th Award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant der Reserve
Unit:
Kommandeur Grenadier Regiment 199 "List" / 4.Panzer-Armee / Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
June 9th, 1944
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Awarded for his outstanding performance as a regimental commander during the fighting on the southern sector of the Eastern front from summer 1943 to winter 1944. During the retreat over a river König, seeing that the German security line had been breached, created a new frontline with his weak forces. He held this line against every Soviet attack until all elements of his Division had crossed over to the other side, thereafter pulling back himself. It is possible this action refers to the German crossing over the Gniloi Tikitsch river on the 17.02.1944 during the breakout from the Cherkassy pocket?

70th Award.
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Füsilier
Unit:
5. Kompanie/Königlich Bayerisches Infanterie-Leib-Regiment
Awarded on:
November 20th, 1918
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
Awarded on:
1941
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:
6. Kompanie im Infanterie-Regiment 199 'List'
Awarded on:
June 22nd, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
Unit:
III. Bataillons des Infanterie-Regiments 217
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille

Sources

Photo