Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 27th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 16th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 14th, 1944

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 23rd, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 23rd, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Waffen-Hauptscharführer der SS

Unit:

Zugführer, 3. Kompanie, SS-Freiwillige-Grenadier-Regiment 14, 19. SS-Freiwillige-Grenadier-Division (Lettische No. 2), VI. SS-Freiwillige-Armeekorps

Awarded on:

January 16th, 1945

Ansons’ Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 26.12.1944 the enemy launched an attack in the sector adjacent to the left of Regiment 44. With the help of both a strong artillery fire preparation and ground attack aircraft support, the assault succeeded in achieving a 2 km deep penetration. This created a frontline gap that provided the enemy with an opportunity to reach the vital road junction at Jānukrogs, located in the gap between two swamps. Such a move would split the Division’s sector and block its most important supply road. Simultaneously, this frontline gap could have permitted the enemy to launch a flanking thrust to the east and thereby complete their intended encirclement of the Division’s main body.

Waffen-Hauptscharführer Ansons, Zugführer in the 3./Regiment 44, recognized the gravity of the situation. And in this moment he distinguished himself through outstanding bravery.

He threw himself against the deeply broken-in enemy at the head of a few men, and after bitter counterthrusts and hard close combat he was able to eject the foe. He sealed off the penetration and managed to hold this new frontline in a heroic display of resistance against the repeated onslaughts of a superior opponent.

By this extraordinary act of bravery, Waffen-Hauptscharführer Ansons gave the Regiment the opportunity to bring up reserves and eliminate the penetration completely. With this a genuinely critical situation was mastered thanks to the heroic defensive effort led by Waffen-Hauptscharführer Ansons.

This outstanding deed of bravery deserves appropriate recognition. It is therefore recommended that Waffen-Hauptscharführer Ansons be awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”