Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obergefreiter (Corporal)

Unit:

Gruppenführer Pionier-Zug/Grenadier-Regiment 528

Awarded on:

May 15th, 1944

At 04:00 on the 21.03.1944, following heavy artillery preparation, the Soviets attacked the positions of Grenadier-Regiment 528 near the village of Scharky. After a tough fight they penetrated the line, and the Grenadiers pulled back to the village itself. Later on the evening of that day however the regimental Pionierzug commanded by Obergefreiter Meinhardt launched a counterthrust that threw the Soviets out of the positions that had been lost.

Despite this success, at 08:30 on the next morning the German outposts failed to spot a new attack in time and the surprised defenders were forced to retreat once again after a hard fight during which a T-34 was knocked out. Once again however Meinhardt and his Pioniers launched a riposte in the evening that reclaimed the positions for the Germans.

On the next day, the 23.03.1944, the Soviets launched yet another attack. In the intense battle which followed Obergefreiter Meinhardt was able to hold his position with just a single fellow Pionier for the whole day until reinforcements came up in the evening. The steadfastness of Obergefreiter Meinhardt in the previous days did not go unnoticed. He would receive the Knight’s Cross as well as the nickname, “The Tiger of Scharky”.