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Bergerhoff, Günther, Dr.jur. (Gren-Reg. 162)

    Date of birth:
    December 12th, 1912 (Klein Goddula/Saxony, Germany)
    Date of death:
    May 6th, 1991 (Bochum/Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)
    Nationality:
    German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

    Biography

    Career:
    12.02.1940: entered the Wehrmacht - Wehrkreis replacement depot in Westphalia and received his recruit training at Rembertow near Warsaw
    10.04.1940: appointed 11./ Inf.Rgt. 325
    06.1940: did not take part to the Western campaign and appointed to the III./ Inf.Rgt. 162 in the Concarneau-Rosporden area in Brittany
    01.09.1941: WIA in Russia and sent to military hospital 3./ 571
    25.01.1942: Stab./ III./ Inf.Rgt. 162
    26.07.1942: Stab./ I./ Inf.Rgt. 162
    29.07.1942: 6./ Inf.Rgt. 162
    01.08.1942: 2./ Inf.Rgt. 162
    08.1942: promoted to Unteroffizier
    12.10.-12.12.1942: 11. Offiziers-Anwärter-Lehrgang - Schule VII der Infanterie - Milowitz near Prag
    15.12.1942: promoted to Leutnant der Reserve
    25.01.1943: Stab./ I. / Grenadier-Regiment 162
    27.02.1944: took part in his 23rd close combat day near Auwere
    15.-16.02.1944: Grenadier Regiment 162 being attacked by the enemy in the Narew bridgehead north of Kriwasoo during the night and the commander and all officers of the battalion being wounded, took over the leadership of the I./ GR162 and broke into the enemy line with a small assault team. He managed to establish a connection with the left neighbor and led his battalion through the small break-in. Through his deployment, the regiment's attack finally came to bear in the evening. The result of the day was the capture of a Soviet regimental staff, the capture of numerous infantry guns and several heavy grenade launchers. In addition, two enemy battalions were smashed.
    15.03.1944: promoted to Oberleutnant der Reserve
    14.04.1944: awarded the RK given to him because of his wound in the military hospital 1./531
    29.04.-02.05.1944: in the reserve military hospital Allenstein 1
    19.07.1944: in the military hospital in Semmering
    End July 1944: appointed to the Grenadier-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Bataillon 151 in Bischofsburg
    Fall 1944: returned to the regiment
    25.01.1945: WIA and treated first by the medical company 1/158
    15.02.1945: sent to be cared for in the reserve hospital in Lübeck
    19.03.1945: transferred to the Blankenstein / Ruhr sub-hospital.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Gefreiter der Reserve (Lance Corporal of Reserves)
    Unit:
    II./ Inf.Rgt. 162
    Awarded on:
    July 26th, 1942
    Medaille
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    Stab I./ Grenadier-Regiment 162
    Awarded on:
    July 24th, 1943
    Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    I./ Gren.Rgt. 162
    Awarded on:
    April 8th, 1944
    Nahkampfspange in Bronze
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    Adjutant, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 162, 61. Infanterie-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    April 15th, 1944
    On the night of the 15./16.02.1944 the Grenadier-Regiment 162 attacked the Soviet bridgehead over the Narew river north of Kriwasoo. After achieving a penetration with a small assault unit, Oberleutnant Bergerhoff found himself at the head of his Bataillon after its commander and all other officers had become casualties. He nonetheless succeeded in making contact with the left neighbour, and he led his Bataillon into the small penetration area he had previously made. His bravery and decisiveness on this night meant that the attack finally came to fruition as dawn broke. A Soviet regimental command post was captured, two enemy battalions were smashed and numerous infantry guns and heavy mortars were captured.

    Oberleutnant Bergerhoff would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions here.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    I./ Gren.Rgt. 162
    Awarded on:
    March 2nd, 1945
    Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
    WIA 01.09.1945 + 16.02.1944 + 25.01.1945
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Unteroffizier der Reserve (Corporal of Reserves)
    Unit:
    Inf.Rgt. 162
    Awarded on:
    August 7th, 1942
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Unteroffizier der Reserve (Corporal of Reserves)
    Unit:
    Inf.Rgt. 162
    Awarded on:
    January 25th, 1942
    Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Gefreiter der Reserve (Lance Corporal of Reserves)
    Awarded on:
    September 1st, 1941
    WIA 01.09.1941
    Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

    Sources

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