Cay-Lorenz Baron von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt (25 August 1923 - 11 September 1997) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 April 1945 as Oberleutnant and Regimentsadjutant Stab Panzer-Regiment 15 / 11.Panzer-Division “Gespenster-Division”.
The following wartime excerpt describes why Brockdorff was awarded the Ritterkreuz:
“At another location on the western from the enemy entered into the village of Kalenborn, which contained the command post of a Panzer-Regiment. At this time the regimental commander was with his soldiers in another important sector. But in the meantime the North Americans had enveloped our blocking front near Obererl, placing them in the rear of our armoured groups and cutting off contact to our Grenadiers.
Acting swiftly, the regimental adjutant Oberleutnant Baron Cay-Lorenz von Brockdorff (hailing from Berlin) took over the leadership of the units in his sector. He assembled a weak Zug from the Panzergrenadier-Regiment and attacked the enemy-occupied Minderberg from the north.
Despite the heavy enemy artillery fire he continued to lead his men through the densely forested terrain. A large number of his Panzergrenadiers were nonetheless pinned down in the strong hostile fire. He eventually stormed the Minderberg with only a few soldiers and went on to hold it for an hour against much larger enemy forces in the thick undergrowth until reinforcements arrived and relieved him. Thanks to prudent intervention of the Oberleutnant it was possible to restore contact with our armoured group. The North Americans had taken such heavy losses in this engagement that they broke off any further breakthrough attempts.”
Submitted on 14 April 1945.
Preliminary document and decoration on 19 April 1945 to Heeresgruppe G.
Bescheinigung dated 3 May 1945.
Source :
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Brockdorff,_Cay-Lorenz_Baron_von
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=194011&p=1746561&hilit=cay+lorenz+von+brockdorff#p1746561
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