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Schroeter, Anton (Div.-Füsilier-Bataillon 126)

Date of birth:
March 2nd, 1920 (Heilsberg (East Prussia), Germany)
Date of death:
January 31st, 1945 (Mehlsack (East Prussia), Germany)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Bartosze
Grave: UNK.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

30.01. (VDK) or 31.01.1945 : Oberleutnant, DOW in the H.V.Pl. Mehlsack, Feldlaz. mot 25 near Fürstenau, 18km north east of Pr. Holland

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 126, 126. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
March 26th, 1944
During the late morning of the 24.02.1944 the Soviets managed to envelop the left wing of the 126. Infanterie-Division and launch a thrust against its lines of communication from the west. This latter thrust met almost no resistance and quickly resulted in the Soviets occupying a segment of supply road near Pogarelka, specifically between the divisional command post and those belonging to the regiments. Oberleutnant Schroeter and his Füsilier-Bataillon were located north of the penetration at this point in time, and they now received orders to clear the road of the Soviets to the greatest possible extent.

Despite heavy Soviet resistance, the Bataillon was able to completely accomplish this task within a few hours. Oberleutnant Schroeter then attacked the Soviet group just to the west of the road on his own initiative and thereby pushed it back to the point where it was no longer able to see (let alone interdict) the road.

It later turned out that this success by Schroeter’s Bataillon had destroyed the attacking spearhead of a newly brought up Soviet division.

Schroeter himself would later be awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions on this day.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 424, 126. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
October 7th, 1943
Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS

Sources

  • - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
    - Scheibert, Horst. Die Träger der Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und der Waffen-SS/ Die Träger der Ehrentaffelspange der Kriegsmarine/ Die Inhaber des Ehrenpokals für Besondere Leistung im Lukftkrieg. Friedberg, Ger.: Podzun-Pallas Verlag, 1986, ISBN 3-7909-0283-7
    - Axis History Forum via Awardholders / unit
    - Braake, G., Die rheinisch-westfälische 126. Infanterie Division. 1940 - 1945, Ed. Dörfler in Nebel Verlag, Eggolsheim, Germany, 2004

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