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Friday, April 16, 2021

Ritterkreuz Action of Robert Alber

Robert Alber (13 October 1906 - 7 June 1988) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #2089 on 7 September 1943 as Hauptmann der Reserve and Führer I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 201 / 23.Panzer-Division. Alber commanded the I./Panzer-Regiment 201 during the summer of 1943. During the first part of the battle for the Mius, on 30 July 1943, Alber was ordered to take a Kampfgruppe with both Panzers and reconnaissance units and launch a counterattack towards the north. His Panzer was soon knocked out, but he boarded another one and continued the attack. Disregarding the threats to his exposed battlegroup from the flanks and rear, they reached the village of Garany. Here his Panzer received two anti-tank gun hits and Alber was wounded in the right hand, but he remained in the fight and even managed to defeat 3 Soviet anti-tank gun positions with his damaged vehicle. By 11:30 the village was secured, and Alber launched an attack back towards the south in order to encircle the enemies they’d bypassed. Thus, a mere 10 minutes later, contact was made with 16. Panzergrenadier-Division at Hill 196.0 (1 km south of Garany), and the ring was secured. Elements from 6 Soviet rifle divisions were trapped, and by the time of the battle’s conclusion the Soviets had lost 4193 prisoners, 52 anti-tank guns and 35 other artillery pieces. Alber was presented with the Ritterkreuz shortly afterwards for this major tactical achievement.

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28067/Alber-Robert.htm

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