Düe, Rolf (PzJgAbt 19)

Date of birth:: January 28th, 1915 (Hannover, Germany)
Date of death:: April 14th, 2005 (Isernhagen/Lowersaxony, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
October 1st, 1938: Gefreiter;
June 1st, 1939: Unteroffizier;
April 1st, 1940: Feldwebel;
June 1st, 1940: Leutnant der Reserve;
June 1st, 1942: Oberleutnant der Reserve;
May 1st, 1944: Hauptmann der Reserve;
?: Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr).

Career:
October 1st, 1936: Reichsarbeitsdienst;
November 2nd, 1937: Wehrdienst, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19;
August 1939: Stellvertretender Zugführer, Nachrichtenzug, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 267;
February 2nd, 1940: 2. Kriegsoffizier-Lehrgang, Panzertruppenschule Wünstorf;
June 1st, 1940: Nachrichtenoffizier, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19;
November 2nd, 1942: Kompasnieführerlehrgang, Schule für Schnelle Truppen, Versailles;
January 3rd, 1943: Führer, 3. Kompanie, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19;
March 16th, 1943: Chef, 1. Kompanie, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19;
March 16th, 1945: Kommandeur, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19;
May 10th, 1945 - August 24th, 1948: Soviet POW;
1956: Bundeswehr.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Nachrichtenoffizier, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19, 19. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: July 21st, 1941

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Nachrichtenoffizier, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19, 19. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: September 25th, 1942

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Chef, 1. Kompanie, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19, 19. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: July 29th, 1943

(Allgemeines) Sturmabzeichen (ohne zahlen), I.Stufe

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Chef, 1. Kompanie, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19, 19. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: August 1st, 1943

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Chef, 1. Kompanie, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19, 19. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: November 5th, 1943

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
Unit:: Chef, 1. Kompanie, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19, 19. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: May 9th, 1944

(Allgemeines) Sturmabzeichen "25", II.Stufe

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
Unit:: Chef, 1. Kompanie, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19, 19. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: October 18th, 1944

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
Unit:: Chef, 1. Kompanie, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19, 19. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: March 23rd, 1945

On February 16th, 1945, Düe and his Panzerjäger Kompanie took up defensive positions in the village of Wernersdorf (Lower Silesia). On the following night the enemy probed the defenses with 2 T-34s, but these were destroyed. An Soviet attack launched on the morning of the next day met a similar fate despite being preceded by an artillery barrage, with this attack losing 6 T-34s. Enemy infantry then commenced further attempts throughout the day but all these were repulsed with heavy losses, including 16 T-34 tanks.

Düe’s Kompanie ultimately held the village until the morning of the February 18th, 1944, and in doing so prevented a Soviet breakthrough towards Schweidnitz. Such a breakthrough would have led to a catastrophe for the XVII. Armeekorps.

By the time of the awarding itself, Düe already was Kommandeur Panzerjäger-Abteilung 19.