Hentschel, Otto (WH-Inf.Rgt. 418)

Date of birth:: July 9th, 1914
Date of death:: July 1944
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Missing in action.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:: Zugführer, 8. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 418, 123. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: September 18th, 1942

The following wartime excerpt describes why Hentschel received the Knight’s Cross…

“Feldwebel Otto Hentschel… was involved in the heavy defensive combat southeast of Lake Ilmen as a Zugführer in an Infanterie-Regiment. Here he defended his assigned position against all attacks by far numerically superior forces. Despite being wounded he personally continued to operate an MG, and he was ultimately able to prevent all breakthrough attempts by the Bolsheviks.”

Sources

- FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- Unteroffiziere des Heeres mit dem Ritterkreuz - Sammelbilder.