Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)

Unit:

9. / Infanterie-Regiment 92

Awarded on:

July 17th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Awarded on:

October 15th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

Gruppenführer 9. / Grenadier-Regiment 92 (motorisiert)

Awarded on:

January 5th, 1943

During a Soviet attack on the positions of the 60. Infanterie Division (mot) on the 05.12.1942, two penetrations (supported by about 20 tanks each) were achieved against both the Grenadier-Regiments 120 and 92. In the latter case the Soviet armoured thrust could only be halted just before the regimental command post, where they lost 6 tanks due to Panzer and artillery fire. Now, being isolated from their own infantry, the Soviet tanks tried to escape hostile territory by retreating back across the main German line.

However these were engaged in close combat by German infantry in the area between the regimental command post and the frontline. Despite their desperate attempts to flee all the Soviet tanks were eventually destroyed or disabled, many of these by Obergefreiter Mette and his squad of Grenadiers. By the evening, over a space approximately 2 soccer fields in size, a total of 19 Soviet tanks lay knocked out by the German infantry. Of these 8 alone were put out of action by Mette’s squad. For this success, which ensured that the German frontline here could be held, Obergefreiter Mette was decorated with the Knight’s Cross.