Drees, Karl-Heinz

Date of birth:: September 17th, 1923 (Duisburg/Rhineprovince, Germany)
Date of death:: July 14th, 2008 (Oldenburg/Lower Saxony, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Karl-Heinz Drees finally reached the rank of Feldwebel during the war. After the Second World War he served with the Bundeswehr from 3rd September 1956 until 3rd September 1975 and finally reached the rank of Hauptfeldwebel.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)
Unit:: Richtschütze 14.(Panzerjäger) / Grenadier-Regiment 552 / 329.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: February 8th, 1944

In January 1944 the Germans garrisoned the village of Reble (north of Newel) with a bicycle Schwadron as well as two anti-tank guns from the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 552. One of these was a captured 7.62 cm Pak, for which Gefreiter Drees was the gunner.

On the 23.01.1944 the Russians attacked the village with 5 tanks, threatening the supply road a few kilometres north of the village as well as the railway line. Drees’ Pak was located in a flanking position, and Drees himself destroyed 3 enemy tanks before they reached the southeastern entrance to the village. He then prevented the other tanks from entering the northern part of the village, whereupon they pulled back under a smokescreen. These 2 tanks then tried their luck against the southeastern part of the village, but were likewise destroyed by Drees.

Ultimately it was the bravery, skill and steadfastness of Gefreiter Drees that prevented the enemy from breaking through to the north. At the same time he raised his total of enemy armour destroyed since November 1943 to 9 tanks and 1 SU-152 assault gun. He was thusly awarded the Knight’s Cross for his accomplishments on the battlefield.