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Raucheisen, Franz-Xaver (Infanterie-Regiment 131)

Date of birth:
October 17th, 1889 (Baar/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:
January 11th, 1941 (Rochefort, France)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Berneuil
Plot: 5. Row: 24. Grave: 860.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Franz-Xaver Raucheisen was killed on January 11th, 1941 in an accident with a horse.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 131, 44. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
August 5th, 1940
The following wartime excerpt describes why Raucheisen received the Knight’s Cross…

“Major Raucheisen succeeded in securing a bridgehead across the demolished Oise bridge at Port de Marence despite the presence of numerous enemy MG positions on the opposite river bank. In order to reconnoiter the crossing conditions here he personally swam across the 70 meter wide Oise River with 11 men, all while under enemy fire. Then he committed additional elements of his Bataillon across the river on inflatable boats in order to eject the enemy forces that were still dug-in at the crossing site. The creation of this bridgehead (which compromised the enemy’s entire Oise defensive position) was of decisive importance for the German leadership.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo