Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter (Lance Corporal)

Unit:

MG-Schütze 8./Jäger-Regiment 228 / 101. Jäger-Division

Awarded on:

May 11th, 1945

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

“The Jäger-Regiment 228 received the order to retake Alsobaskoc. Since the enemy had a very strong fire superiority, it was determined that the assault would be launched at night. Beginning just after dusk under steady rainfall, both Bataillone of Jäger-Regiment 228 only made slow progress along the ground while fighting bitterly against the determined enemy. II. Bataillon had the task of penetrating into the village of Alsobaskoc from the southwest, advance to the edge of the village and link up with I. Bataillon (which was attacking from the northwest).

Moving across flooded meadows, 8. Kompanie made its way towards the west edge of the village. As it got to within 200 metres of the village edge it began taking extremely heavy fire from enemy AT guns, mortars and MGs. The MGs of the 8. Kompanie went into position, including the one operated by Gefreiter Kuchar in the foremost squad on the left. In this most critical moment the Kompanie commander fell due to a severe wound. Before word of this reached the oldest Zugführer, Gefreiter Kuchar sprang up out of cover. Recognizing the impending crisis that would result from the fall of the Kompanie commander, he made an independent decision to charge the enemy with his MG. Firing from the hip, he dashed forward fearlessly while shouting a loud ‘Hurra’ and assaulted the enemy AT guns on the southwest edge of the village. In a death-defying fight he immediately eliminated 2 enemy AT gun crews, put that of a third to flight and took the startled Russian machine gunners and riflemen at the village edge under fire. Taking lead from his example, the men of his Kompanie now also stormed against the village and, in a furious attack, broke into it on a wide front, overrunning 3 more AT gun positions and getting to as far as the village centre.

It is exclusively on account of Gefreiter Kuchar that the attack of 8. Kompanie and by extension II. Bataillon could be continued at a decisive moment following the fall of the commander of 8. Kompanie. Furthermore, by storming the three most dangerous AT gun positions, Gefreiter Kuchar created the decisive preconditions for the successful prosecution of the attack by the Bataillon.

The bold and independent action of Gefreiter Kuchar at just the right moment contributed decisively to the consolidation of the situation in the sector of the Jäger-Regiment 228. Through his swift resolve he also prevented the enemy from using their heavy weapons to maximum effect, meaning that the village could be recaptured with minimal losses.

Gefreiter Kuchar, who has already distinguished himself through outstanding personal bravery and independent action during the fighting in autumn 1944, is thus especially worthy of the high award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”


His nomination by his unit was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 11-4-1945. Major approved the nomination on 12-4-1945. A Heerespersonalamt-Verleihungsvorschlag (HPA-VV—Army Staff Office Nomination Recommendation) Nr. 5085 was created on 19 April. According to the file card, this HPA-VV was forwarded for approval. No further information regarding the approval or presentation of the Knight's Cross is indicated. The presentation date is an assumption of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR).

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 25th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 5th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 3rd, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 14th, 1944