Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer Kampfgruppe Führer-Begleit Bataillon

Awarded on:

March 14th, 1943

The following newspaper article (dated 19.03.1943) describes why Pohlmann received the Knight’s Cross…

“Kampfgruppe Hauptmann Pohlmann - A Glorious Chapter in the Winter Fighting:

… Hauptmann Pohlmann particularly distinguished himself through his bravery and skillful leadership during the fighting against far superior enemy forces that had penetrated friendly lines along the middle Don and later during the retreat battles to and across the upper Donez. During the middle of January he destroyed a Soviet rifle regiment in one of his brilliant, personally orchestrated operations. Later, in the fighting around Belgorod, he launched a counterthrust on his own initiative that smashed a much larger enemy force that was assembling for an attack. By doing this he held open the retreat route for a German Kampfgruppe. Kampfgruppe Pohlmann captured or destroyed 48 tanks, 68 anti-tank guns, 312 mortars/machine-guns and 150 sleighs. The unit took 172 prisoners and killed over 1600 Bolsheviks.”