- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Zugführer 16. / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 / 1.Gebirgs-Division / XXXXIV.Armee-Korps / 6.Armee / Heeresgruppe B
- Awarded on:
- July 19th, 1940
The following wartime excerpt describes why Pössinger received the Knight’s Cross…r…
“On the 06.06.1940, following the attack of the 1. Gebirgs-Division over the Oise Canal at Coucy le Chateau and its own crossing of the canal, the Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 98 received the mission of securing the open left flank in anticipation of the main German attack the next day.
The Panzerabwehr-Zug under Pössinger was responsible for tank defense along the left wing of this security detail. On this day an enemy tank attack was met by Pössinger’s Zug alone and was thrown back here, with Leutnant Pössinger personally manning the first gun. Showing brave and exemplary behaviour, he alone continued to serve the gun in the strongest of enemy tank fire. He can be credited with both the leadership of the defense here as well as the destruction of 6 enemy tanks.”
Note: The attacking enemy force consisted of 11 tanks.
142nd Award.