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Tröger, Rudolf

Date of birth:
July 14th, 1917 (Plauen-Vogtland/Kingdom of Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
July 28th, 1983 (Schöneck/Saxony, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 27th, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel
Unit:
II. / Grenadier-Regiment 102
Awarded on:
October 27th, 1944

According to other source the awarding date is 20-10-1944.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:
Ordonnanz Offizier II. / Grenadier-Regiment 102
Awarded on:
April 17th, 1945
Tröger’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 25.03.1945 the II./Grenadier-Regiment 102 was locked in fierce defense combat west of the train station at Josta. They faced a vastly numerically superior enemy that sought to reach the railway line at any cost.

All officers aside from the Bataillon commander fell in battle. Tröger took over a Kompanie. Despite the strong enemy fire he rushed from strongpoint to strongpoint, all while inspiring his men to offer up fanatical resistance. He was a radiant example amidst the fiercest of combat. When the Bataillon commander also fell in battle he took over leadership of the Bataillon with no lack of resolve. When a decisive hill fell during the afternoon in the face of a 300-man strong attack, Tröger acted swiftly and commenced a counterthrust after rallying a handful of troops.

Placing himself at the head of his 12 troops, he assailed the far numerically superior enemy in a bold strike and managed to both recapture and hold the hill against all subsequent attacks. Tröger was the soul of the resistance. He threw himself into the thick of the fighting without a second thought for himself, and his personal example here resulted in a successful defensive on this heavy day of combat.

This deed prevented the enemy from successfully advancing to the Josta railroad station and then further to the north. Tröger was badly wounded on the 28.03.1945.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo