Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

Gruppenführer, 1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21, 24. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

August 8th, 1944

In the first days of August 1944, during the fighting in Poland, the Soviets managed to complete a deep penetration into the German defensive positions which they exploited with armoured forces. In their path was the German 24. Panzer-Division, among which was the Pak gun commander Obergefreiter Kollhofer. Positioned on the eastern edge of a cornfield, he saw a Soviet tank come into view at a range of 1200 metres in the morning mists. After he had immobilized it, a message came from the Grenadiers forward of his position. They informed him that the Soviets had broken through with several battalions and 15 tanks.

Kollhofer calmly opened fire on the attacking foe with high explosive rounds, while a second German Pak nearby was knocked out. Recognizing the dangerous situation, Kollhofer quickly shifted to a different position. From here he destroyed 7 Soviet tanks, after which he became wounded by the furious enemy tank fire. Nonetheless he held out, destroying another tank from a range of 60 metres. With this the Soviet attack came to a halt.

Kollhofer’s actions here were critical in ensuring that the German infantry Bataillon here could pull back without suffering major losses. He would thus be awarded the Knight’s Cross.