Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Chef 1./Panzer-Regiment 31

Awarded on:

May 18th, 1941

Awarded for his actions during the Balkans campaign on the 24.04.1941. These are described in the following combat report (dated 25.04.1941)…

“On the 24.04.1941 the Kompanie set out from Lamia and along the advance road to the south via Mustafabei in conjunction with elements of the Aufkl.Abt. 8. However the advance along this road was cancelled due to the pass road having been thoroughly wrecked. The Kompanie was therefore deployed along the road to Molos. A Zug of the Kompanie had already received the mission of reconnoitring in this direction on the morning of the same day, but it had to pull back after it received heavy anti-tank and artillery fire.

At 16:15 the divisional commander personally gave the Kompanie commander of the 1./Pz.Rgt. 31 the mission to conduct an aggressive reconnaissance towards Molos and destroy the artillery near the village.

The Kompanie immediately formed up in an attack column and set out along the road. No other attack formation was possible given the unsuitability of the terrain on either side of the road. After about 2 km the first Panzers rolled past the friendly infantry (which had taken cover in the road ditches due to the strong enemy fire). The Panzer Kompanie now pressed ahead with even greater speed. After a short while the Kompanie began taking heavy fire from anti-tank guns and artillery over open sights. 6-8 identified anti-tank guns were fired upon while the Panzers were on the move. Since all the enemy guns were on the right side of the road, the weapons of the Kompanie were able to effectively engage them with turrets turned to the right. It was thus possible to fight through this defensive zone swiftly and without noteworthy losses.

After about 500 metres the Kompanie once again began taking fire from anti-tank guns and artillery. This new defensive zone was estimated to contain about 10 guns altogether, and they were again located on the right side of the road in very favourable firing positions. The Kompanie simultaneously began taking strong MG fire. But here the enemy was again successfully engaged while firing on the move, though a few Panzers were lost in the process. The attack was carried on with even higher speeds (35 km/hour).

The Kompanie again took heavy and coordinated fire from artillery and anti-tank guns after it had crested the next rise in the terrain. The foremost Panzer burned out immediately and the two following vehicles received major hits and were forced off the road. The Kompanie commander’s vehicle likewise received a hit in the drive wheel, however it was able to drive to a favourable slope position. The vehicle of the second Zugführer likewise drove into this slope position. The enemy, located about 500 metres away, was now engaged with the 5-cm guns and MGs of these Panzers. The effectiveness of the high-explosive rounds was so great that several guns were quickly silenced after a short time. The Kompanie reached this third line at around 16:35. The enemy fire was still very strong. They blocked the road behind the foremost vehicles.

Those elements of the Kompanie that were still able to fight (two 5-cm and three 2-cm Panzers) received support from two 7.5-cm Panzers that were now assigned to the battle. A Panzer IV took up overwatch positions beside the Kompanie commander’s Panzer in the slope position, while the other drove against the enemy. This latter vehicle got into the artillery position and knocked out two guns before being knocked out itself by a direct hit. A Stuka attack then took place at around 17:30, and this temporarily silenced the still combat-capable enemy batteries. At around 18:30 the Inf.Gesch.Kp. 704 (with 5 guns) was brought into position, and their effect on the enemy was so great that the hostile fire was negligible from 19:00 onwards. At around 22:00 a dismounted Schwadron and two Kompanien from the I./Pz.Rgt. 31 came up and took over security. The Kompanie was pulled out of the position.”

Generlmajor Fehn later wrote a letter to General Stumme on the 26.04.1941 that also described the combat on this day. Here follows a short excerpt from the letter that outlines the significance of Schönburg-Waldenburg’s actions…

“The battle of Molos was fought and decided by the heroic attack of the 1./Pz.Rgt. 31 and the heavy Inf.Gesch.Kp. 704 (without one gun). Elements of the Vorausabteilung of the 6. Geb.Div. were pinned down before the enemy position prior to the attack of the Panzers. The 1./Pz.Rgt. 31 fought its way through the first battery positions and crushed the second set of battery positions. The enemy suffered bloody losses (including many prisoners taken), and they were compelled to flee their positions with the onset of darkness.

The lead elements of the Gebirgs-Division (bicycle troops) moved out at nightfall following the cessation of this battle and secured Molos.”