Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 16th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Kommandeur, II. Abteilung, Flak-Regiment 43, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

June 9th, 1944

The following press article (dated 29.06.1944) describes the Knight’s Cross action of Hauptmann Hakenholt, which took place in the Kirovograd area sometime at the start of January 1944 or the end of December 1944…

“Over 300 tanks and multiple rifle divisions of the Soviets came forth in several waves against a friendly defensive front held by just two German Bataillonen. Of the three heavy Flak batteries emplaced there, two were quickly caught up in the battle and they destroyed 33 Soviet tanks. The gun where Hauptmann Hakenholt personally fought at, and from where he conducted the battle itself, alone destroyed 11 enemy tanks. However the Soviet superiority was such that one cannon after another was knocked out. As the last was forced to cease fire due to a lack of ammunition, 41 tanks lay burning and destroyed on the battlefield. Hauptmann Hakenholt now gave the order for his soldiers to fight their way back to the main battle line. After a multi-hour firefight against a great enemy superiority, the cannoneers succeeded in fighting their way back after they had eliminated a total of 74 Soviet tanks.”

An earlier newspaper article, dated 09.01.1944, reported that the Abteilung had destroyed 50 Soviet tanks in a 6 hour battle and in doing so had achieved its 231st tank kill.