Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 7th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 23rd, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Zugführer, Stabskompanie, Grenadier-Regiment 273, 93. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

June 9th, 1944

After a several-hour long artillery barrage, the Soviets attacked the positions of the 93. Infanterie-Divison, which was positioned at Pushkinskie-Gory (southeast of Ostrov) at the time. They pierced the line in three places, and then turned south to capture the only bridge over the Velikaya for many kilometers around. Feldwebel Süß and his Zug were thus ordered to secure the bridge or, if it was already in opposing hands, take it back.

When Süß and his Zug arrived at the bridge it was already under heavy Soviet artillery fire. Pushing ahead of his men, he dashed through the curtain of fire and reached the two hills on the opposite bank. Though these were well-suited for defense towards the west and northwest, Süß judged them to be too close to the bridge for comfort. At that distance, there was no depth to the defence and the bridge would easily fall if this first line of defence was breached. Thus he decided to seize an enemy-occupied village some 700 metres distant, and was able to do this after a hard fight.

By these actions he prevented the single bridge over the Velikaja from falling into Soviet hands, creating the preconditions for the later successful counterattacks of his Regiment. In recognition of this he received the Knight's Cross.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

Zugführer, Stabskompanie, Grenadier-Regiment 273, 93. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

January 24th, 1945

Awarded for his further success as a platoon commander during the defense of Courland in the fall of 1944.

717th Award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)