Iwannek, Otto

Date of birth:: September 19th, 1908 (Frögenau/Eastprussia, Germany)
Date of death:: June 30th, 1981 (Obernjesa/Lowersaxony, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Obergefreiter (Corporal)
Unit:: Melder, 2. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 45, 21. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: March 17th, 1945

During the bitter defensive battles in East Prussia during February 1945, Obergefreiter Iwannek was serving as a messenger in the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 45, a unit which was spread out on a relatively wide front along a chain of strongpoints. As he was delivering messages to the strongpoints, he observed that Soviet forces had slipped through the thinly held German lines.

Recognizing the great danger this posed for the Kompanie, he rallied a couple of Grenadiers and launched a counterthrust on his own initiative. This move succeeded in preventing the encirclement and probable destruction of the Kompanie, which would have in turn served as a basis for further enemy advances. For this brave and successful intervention, Iwannek was awarded the Knight’s Cross.