Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, 2. Batterie, SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 8, 8. SS-Kavallerie-Division 'Florian Geyer'

Awarded on:

May 14th, 1944

Schachner’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

"On the night of 16.10.1943, Cavalry Regiment 15 was released from the previous main battle line. They were ordered to take up positions in the Komunar area. The enemy identified the withdrawal very early on and, despite the bad weather, immediately moved up strong tank and infantry forces during the night. The leading enemy hit the security position of SS-Obersturmführer Schachner as he was disengaging. After a short firefight, he was able to report that the enemy tanks had been shot up and the enemy infantry also wiped out. This action bought time for our units to move to the new line of defense before first light.

At dawn, the enemy arrived in front of our positions with 150 tanks and strong infantry forces, going immediately into the attack.

The movement to the new positions during the night proved to have been extremely unfavourable at the start of the attack, since the few remaining armour-piercing weapons could only take the oncoming enemy tanks under fire after they had rolled over our own infantry.

In this crisis, SS-Obersturmführer Schachner took the decision to attack the tanks that had got as far as our main battle line. He thus took the fight to them, despite the huge numerical superiority of the enemy. Because the opponent had also broken through the neighbouring unit on the right, this endangered the open flank of the Regiment. During this crisis 50 enemy tanks were shot up, of which SS-Obersturmführer Schachner's two vehicles shot up 24 T-34s (he personally destroyed 12). The Regiment, which already had its flank partially rolled up quite deeply by enemy infantry forces, was able to avoid being eliminated. The increasing pressure mounted after bitter, close combat at Ustimowka but was halted at Berestki.

The decision by SS-Obersturmführer Schachner to advance to where he was needed most despite the overwhelming enemy, the personal example shown to the younger commanders through the destruction of the enemy armour, and the inspiring high achievements of his men during the resulting battle prevented further advances by the enemy.

On 19.10.1943, SS-Obersturmführer Schachner was in his Sturmgeschütz when it was shot up during a reconnaissance foray into Piatichatki, and he died a heroic death."

Awarded posthumously.