Schroepfer, Michael

Date of birth:: January 16th, 1915 (Nim-Vorgut/Bischofteinitz, Austria-Hungary)
Date of death:: December 27th, 1980 (Lahr/Offenburg, 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:: Richtschütze 14./Infanterie-Regiment 111
Awarded on:: December 27th, 1941

At some point during December of 1941 the Infanterie-Regiment 111 (35. Infanterie-Division) came under attack by a force of Soviet infantry plus ~15 tanks near the town of Klin. The battle reached a critical situation for the Germans, who could only defeat the Soviet tanks with great difficulty in the frozen hill country. Obergefreiter Schroepfer proved to be the hero of the day in this situation, destroying numerous hostile tanks and preventing a breakthrough of the German position. In doing so he brought his total of destroyed enemy tanks to 19, and for this (as well as his decisive intervention in the battle as described) he was decorated with the Knight's Cross.

Sources

- HUß, JÜRGEN & SONDERMANN, HEINZ-WERNER, Ritterkreuzträger im Mannschaftsstand 1941-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, 2009.