Heinz Berger (1 December 1914 - 16 April 1983) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 17 September 1941 as Gefreiter and Richtschütze in 14.(Panzerjäger) Kompanie / III. Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 187 / 87.Infanterie-Division. The following wartime excerpt describes why Berger was awarded the Ritterkreuz: “On 30 August and 1 September 1941 Gefreiter Berger fought as the gunner of a 3.7 cm Pak in the area west of Bolotina (itself located 17 km north of Jarzewo). While defending against hostile infantry-supported armour attacks, all while under heavy mortar fire, he destroyed 13 Russian tanks that had broken into the main battle line. This total included 12 medium and one 52 ton class tank. Through his outstanding personal bravery he significantly contributed to the ability of Infanterie-Regiment 187 to hold the frontline during this major defensive battle. Gefreiter Berger has by now destroyed over 25 Soviet tanks since the beginning of the Eastern campaign.”
Generalleutnant Bogislav von Studnitz (Kommandeur 87. Infanterie-Division) awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Gefreiter Heinz Berger (Richtschütze in 14.[Panzerjäger] Kompanie / III. Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 187 / 87.Infanterie-Division)
Gefreiter Heinz Berger decorated with the Ritterkreuz for fighting in the Smolensk region accepts congratulations from his colleaguesSource ;
Denis Daum photo collection
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gefreiter_Heinz_Berger_awarded_the_Knight%27s_Cross.jpg
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28377/Berger-Heinz-Infanterie-Regiment-187.htm?c=aw
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