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Brasche, Rudolf "Rudi"

Date of birth:
August 17th, 1917 (Halberstadt/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
November 22nd, 1975 (Ziemetshausen/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:
German

Biography

Rudolf "Rudi" Brasche was Gruppenführer in 4./ Infanterie (Panzergrenadier)-Regiment 93 (later 93. Schützenbrigade) / 13.Panzer-Division.
Transferred to 1. / Panzergrenadier-Lehrregiment 901 in October 1943. After being wounded he was transferred to the Flammenwerferzug / Stabskompanie / Panzer-Lehrdivision (1944). He was wounded 6 times. Became an Unteroffizier in autumn 1942 and Feldwebel on 1st February 1945.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Awarded on:
July 18th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 26th, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Obergefreiter (Corporal)
Unit:
Gruppenführer, 4. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 93, 13. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
November 9th, 1942
During September 1942 Brasche and his squad were positioned on Hill 489, located 20 km south of Mosdok. The Russians attacked this hill on the 13.09.1942. On the evening of the 14.09.1942 two Soviet battalions stormed against the 7 men of Brasche’s squad. The defending Obergefreiter and his men held their position all alone for 3 days and nights, repelling 14 attacks in the process and all while maintaining control of the 13. Panzer-Division’s cornerstone. Brasche would later be awarded the Knight’s Cross in recognition of his actions here.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo