Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberjäger (Corporal)

Unit:

Gewehrführer 14./Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 85

Awarded on:

February 29th, 1944

The following press article (dated 08.08.1944) describes why Oberjäger Rihsle would receive the Knight’s Cross…

“After several hours of an enemy attack on the Abruzzi front, Oberjäger Rihsle’s Zugführer was severely wounded. Following this Rihsle took over the command of the HMG Zug and was able to repeatedly repel the attacking enemy, despite being heavily outnumbered. The enemy, who managed to break into the German positions several times, was repeatedly ejected by immediate counterattacks that Rihsle personally led. Later on in the battle, when he observed the enemy had overrun the positions of his Kompanie and moved into the rear of his Bataillon, he once again reacted decisively. Acting on his own initiative, he counterattacked with an HMG squad and was able to bring it into a position from which it was possible to stymie any further hostile advances. The opponent was forced to retreat back over the hill with heavy losses. Through this decisive act the encirclement of the Bataillon was prevented.”