Date of birth:

December 28th, 1916 (Aschersleben/Pomerania, Germany)

Date of death:

January 20th, 1985 (Goslar/Lower Saxony, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel

Awarded on:

November 27th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel

Unit:

2. / Infanterie-Regiment 194

Awarded on:

January 23rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel

Unit:

2. / Infanterie-Regiment 194

Awarded on:

August 1st, 1942

Received for a single wound inflicted on 22nd June 1942.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

Zugführer 1. / Grenadier-Regiment 686

Awarded on:

May 8th, 1943

The following wartime excerpt describes why Starosta received the Knight’s Cross…

“Oberfeldwebel Otto Starosta… launched a bold counterthrust in the middle of February 1943 that threw back enemy forces which had already penetrated into his sector of the Mius Position. In this engagement he attacked the strong Soviet forces with only 5 Grenadiers from his own Zug, and following bitter close combat he and his men retook a village.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel

Unit:

1. / Grenadier-Regiment 686

Awarded on:

October 19th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

6. / Grenadier-Regiment 302

Awarded on:

February 21st, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Known to STIWOT
• - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Verleihungsurkunde RK, EK1
  - Besitzzeugnis Verwundeten Schwarz, Silber, Gold, ISA
  - Unteroffiziere des Heeres mit dem Ritterkreuz - Sammelbilder