Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)

Unit:

1. Kompanie, Sturm-Pionier-Bataillon 51, Heer

Awarded on:

October 9th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)

Unit:

3. Kompanie, Pionier-Landungs-Bataillon 128, Heer

Awarded on:

July 14th, 1943

Beceause the Nahkampfspange was instituted after Billau had already had 30 days of close combat, he was awarded the Silver version straight away and he did never receive the Bronze version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)

Unit:

2. Kompanie, Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 51, 23. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 9th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)

Unit:

Gruppenführer, 2. Kompanie, Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 51, 23. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 26th, 1943

At the moment tha Billau was given the decoration, he was in the hospital at Znaim and allready had 62 confirmed close combat days. He received the document in the hospotal. On the document his commander had also placed the announcement that he could stay with leave until December 17th 1943. The document was by the way meant for a Allgemeine Sturmabzeichen and was changed to the Nahkapmfspange. This beceause the unit did not have any document for the Nahkampfspange.
Finally he received his Golden Nahkampfspange on September 5th 1944 from Adolf Hitler himself on the Führerhauptquartier. When leaving the ceremony, he received a second decoration from one of Hitlers adjudants, with the words that this second decoration was to be worn on the uniform. The first one was to be kept in the box.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)

Unit:

2. Kompanie, Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 51, 23. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

November 8th, 1944