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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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)
- Awarded on:
- May 25th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
- Unit:
- 6./ Pz.Rgt.11
- Awarded on:
- June 30th, 1942
- 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
According to Patzwall / Scherzer the name is Eilmund.
According to the the Prelimilar Award Document the unit is 6./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 11
- 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
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
doc signed by the regiment commander Major Dr. Franz Bäke
Silver version
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
- Awarded on:
- September 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
- Awarded on:
- September 19th, 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
- Awarded on:
- 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
- Awarded on:
- 1939
Sources
- Photo: German Crosses today - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums
- - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- das-ritterkreuz.de
- German Crosses today
Photo
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