Drossel, Leo (Infanterie-Regiment 102)
- Date of birth:
- February 2nd, 1903 (Berlin-Lichterfelde)
- Date of death:
- July 16th, 1983 (Planegg / Munich)
- Nationality:
- German (1933-1945, Third Reich)
Biography
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Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
- Awarded on:
- 1936
- Awarded on:
- 1936
- Awarded on:
- 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Hauptmann (Captain)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 102, 24. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- July 19th, 1940
“Hauptmann Drossel, commander of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 102, launched an attack against the village of Colombey on his own initiative while showing great personal bravery. In doing so he decisively contributed to the closure of the ring around French forces south of the Toulouse—Nancy line, something which in turn later forced these enemy troops to surrender.”
The following press article provides an alternate description of these events…
“Hauptmann Drossel has decisively contributed to the encirclement of the enemy in the area south of Toulouse—Nancy. Through his sensible initiative in response to the overall situation he blocked the enemy’s retreat route to the south and east. The surrender of the hostile forces in the area south of Toulouse—Nancy took place on the very next day, with a total prisoner count of over 100000 men.”
On the 19.06.1940 Hauptmann Drossel and his III. Bataillon launched a surprise thrust into Vaucouleurs without any artillery preparation, and were able to cross over the remains of the Maas bridge located there. The Bataillon continued its advance as far as Colombey on the next day without regard for the open flanks, and in doing so it blocked the French retreat route from Toulouse towards the south.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
- Photo 2:
- Photo: Wilco Vermeer collection
- - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 2000.
- Photo determination
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