Stettin, Günter

Date of birth:: February 11th, 1912 (Havelberg/Perleberg, Germany)
Date of death:: February 16th, 2001 (Meckenheim/Siegburg, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
October 1st, 1934: Leutnant (116);
August 1st, 1937: Oberleutnant (112);
July 1st, 1940: Hauptmann (22);
June 1st, 1943: Major (84);
April 20th, 1945: Oberstleutnant.

Career:
August 27th, 1939: Adj. Pi.Rgt. 620 (mot.);
February 10th, 1940: Pz.Pi.Btl. 37;
November 16th, 1940: Pz.Tr.Sch.;
December 19th, 1940: Pz.Lehr.Rgt. Wünsdorf;
February 9th, 1941: Pi.Sch. II (Offz.Anw.Lg.);
May 10th, 1942: St.Gen.d.Pi.b.H.Gr. Nord;
January 21st, 1943: Führer-Reserve OKH;
February 25th, 1943: Kdr. Pz.Pi.Btl. 92;
January 14th, 1944: Führer-Reserve OKH;
May 1st, 1944: HPA / Ag P 1 / 5.Abt./ Gr.Ltr. (Pi) vers.;
February 2nd, 1945: z.Kampfkommandant u.Fhr.d. Alarmeinght.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: Kommandeur, Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 92, 20. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: January 24th, 1944

Following a Soviet penetration into the German frontline near the end of 1943, which was only barely contained, the German 20. Panzer-Division initiated a counterattack with two Kampfgruppen. One (Kampfgruppe Süd) was commanded by Major Stettin and it consisted of Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 92 and Panzer-Aufklärungs Abteilung 20. The goal was to recapture the old defensive lines.

Though these were reached in some places, the counterattack had to be called off under heavy Soviet pressure and the Kampfgruppe took up defensive positions in the south. Despite the failure to retake the old positions, the Kampfgruppe had succeeded in preventing the numerically-superior Soviet forces from breaking through to the east and encircling the bulk of the IX. Armeekorps north of Gorodok. As such Stettin was awarded the Knight's Cross.