Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Verband 700, Heer

Awarded on:

June 17th, 1943

The following excerpt describes why Hassel would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“As commander of an improvised Panzer formation on the upper Don (south of Voronezh) in January 1943, Major Hassel has succeeded in bringing strong enemy attacks against a frontline sector held by Hungarian troops to a halt through bold counterthrusts of his own. During this time he attacked an enemy tank brigade on his own initiative and destroyed the greater part of it.”