Ritterkreuz Action of Willy Apitz

Ritterkreuzträger Unteroffizier Willy Apitz recounts his brave exploits beyond the Dnieper. Daily proof that German soldier is best and bravest individual fighter gains substance from first person account by Apitz, over supporting animation, of his experience beyond River Dnieper in being cut of by Soviet armour and calling down his own fire (Artillerie Regiment 81) and tanks to repel nearby Russian forces.

Willy Apitz received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 1 January 1944 as Obergefreiter and Funker in 10.Batterie / Artillerie-Regiment 81 / 97.Jäger-Division. During the autumn of 1943 Obergefreiter Apitz found himself engaged in his Division’s heavy defensive combat along the Lower Dnieper front between the Nikopol and Cherson bridgeheads. In this time, while he was serving as a radio operator at a forward observation post, all of his comrades were killed during a large-scale Soviet attack. When the Soviets proceeded to launch a renewed thrust with tanks and infantry, Apitz decided to personally direct the fire of his attached artillery even though he had no training in this role. However, despite being all alone, he managed to fulfill this role effectively and direct devastating artillery fire onto the attacking Soviet forces.

A unit of Soviet infantry that were passing by suddenly attacked Apitz at his position. He initially held them off with his carbine before ordering his own artillery to bombard his position. He had to repeat the order twice before his stunned comrades proceeded to do just that. Fierce artillery fire was then plastered on Apitz’s position for about a minute. However Apitz survived, and the Soviet infantry took such high losses that they decided to fall back to their jump-off position. With this the Soviet thrust came to an end.

Apitz would be initially decorated with the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse for this action. Later on he also received the Ritterkreuz at the recommendation of his superiors.

Source :
Die Deutsche Wochenschau No. 720 - 21 June 1944
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060004235
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28123/Apitz-Willy.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-DzDJmt5F8

Bio of Leutnant Josef Dörfel (1915-2002)

Josef Dörfel

Date of Birth: 02.03.1915 - Bachheiden, Kreis Guttentag, Oberschlesien (German Empire)
Date of Death: 03.04.2002 - Stadthagen, Schaumburg, Niedersachsen (Germany)

Promotions:
00.00.19__ Oberfeldwebel
00.00.194_ Leutnant

Career:
00.00.19__ Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 439 / 134.Infanterie-Division

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Schützenschnur
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen
04.03.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 439 / 134.Infanterie-Division. Awarded for his actions near the end of 1941, as described in the following wartime excerpt: “Oberfeldwebel Dörfel showed exceptional energy as he and his encircled Zug fought their way out of enemy territory under the most difficult of circumstances. After he and his weary soldiers reached the delaying position only to encounter the enemy a second time he once again initiated a breakthrough, leading at the head of his Zug and encouraging them to fight through the enemy once more. It is only thanks to the indomitable willpower and toughness of Oberfeldwebel Dörfel himself that this Zug was able to make contact with its Bataillon after an almost 48-hour operation while enduring temperatures of -23 degrees, constant snowstorms, a lack of supplies and no opportunities to warm up.”

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Oberfeldwebel Josef Dörfel (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 439 / 134.Infanterie-Division) which were held in March 1942 (Dörfel received the announcement from 4 March 1942). Awarding the medal is Generalmajor Hans Schlemmer (left, Kommandeur 134. Infanterie-Division). Other pictures from this series can be seen HERE.

Josef Dörfel as Oberfeldwebel.

Josef Dörfel as Oberfeldwebel.


This propaganda photo shows three women donating money to two soldiers representing the Kriegswinterhilfswerk, a regular fundraising program aimed at helping underprivileged Germans in winter. The two soldier asking for donations themselves were not ordinary soldiers, but war heroes and Ritterkreuzträger from the Wachbataillon (Watch Battalion) Großdeutschland. They are, from left to right: Leutnant Karl Hausmann (Ritterkreuz on 15 May 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and Führer 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 28 / 8. leichte Infanterie-Division) and Oberfeldwebel Josef Dörfel (Ritterkreuz on 4 March 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 439 / 134.Infanterie-Division). This photo itself was taken in March 1943



Ritterkreuzträger Oberfeldwebel Josef Dörfel (2 March 1915 - 3 April 2002) chats with the youth member of Hitlerjugend. Dörfel received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 March 1942 as a Zugführer in Infanterie-Regiment 439 / 134.Infanterie-Division, but later transferred to Großdeutschland Division.



A Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) member is being trained for the usage of Panzerfaust by the soldier of Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland". The "Panzerknacker" is made of woods. The soldier is Oberfeldwebel Josef "Jupp" Dörfel from Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland", who received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 March 1942 when he was still in 134. Infanterie-Division. The picture itself was taken by Kriegsberichter Hamann on 21 November 1944

Source :
Fakatona photo collection
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-a-hitler-youth-member-is-being-trained-at-the-panzerfaust-1944-94208286.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384269151955?hash=item597839eed3:g:6SsAAOSw1bpg6h0F&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwBf2f%2FbZDyY8j8mAmYwqDYRQ1irOnYDuS9vq2NNrT6YPfHSClM59hW3%2BGZBajBNXul7eFgxzv1TFr%2FJqGlL48E3yrmKb5IdID%2Bko4U7f36iROnKVsj7r%2B1GLlVE%2FTZfmbEXLoc%2BobPWTCdFTPpNycwkKdKJ%2FcHNU6foqRJAur5vlltoZWwmiPPMRKQXtL5%2Fiy4kdxqMEmHwX1iaBJ%2Fc4642maw7CGju3EACW2gF4im6Ni0JrJ1RC36zdtcqX6YkGUg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9znjuzKYg
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=216650&p=1991415&hilit=dorfel#p1991415
https://www.generalassaultmilitaria.com/product/hitler-youth-panzerfaust-gd-knights-cross-holder-press-photo/
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/d.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/29082/D%C3%B6rfel-Josef.htm
http://wehrmachtss.blogspot.com/2018/10/donasi-kriegswinterhilfswerk-oleh.html
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html

Josef Dörfel in Color

Ritterkreuzträger Oberfeldwebel Josef Dörfel (2 March 1915 - 3 April 2002) chats with the youth member of Hitlerjugend. Dörfel received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 March 1942 as a Zugführer in Infanterie-Regiment 439 / 134.Infanterie-Division, but later transferred to Großdeutschland Division.

Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html

Bio of Feldwebel d.R. Karl Oberkircher (1916-1976)

Karl Oberkircher

Date of Birth: 10.12.1916 - Oberbexbach, Homburg, Saar (German Empire)
Date of Death: 28.11.1976 - Oberbexbach, Homburg, Saar (West Germany)

Promotions:
01.10.1939 Gefreiter
01.11.1940 Obergefreiter
04.03.1943 Oberjäger
01.11.1943 Feldwebel der Reserve

Career:
00.00.194_ Gruppenführer in 6.Kompanie / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218 / 7.Gebirgs-Division

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Schützenabzeichen
27.06.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
09.09.1940 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
15.04.1941 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
07.02.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
12.10.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberjäger and Gruppenführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218 / 7.Gebirgs-Division

Gefreiter Karl Oberkicher with his beautiful wife Liesel in 1939/40.



Karl Oberkircher with his son Karlheinz while leaving from his Urlaub in April 1942, now as a Gebirgsjäger NCO with a few awards, described "Karlheinz 9 Monate alt, Abschied von Papas Urlaub im April 42" on the back.



Oberjäger Karl Oberkircher wearing the Ritterkreuz, with his wife Liesel and two kids, November 1943.



Two Ritterkreuzträger in this picture, probably taken in 1944: Feldwebel d.R. Karl Oberkircher and General der Gebirgstruppe Karl Eglseer (Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps).

Source :
Jim Haley photo collection
https://crainsmilitaria.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2727
https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/GKSQB2LSWXWSW6TRXPKW4YMZ7KKBAWTG
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2049403#p2049403
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/o.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/84500/Oberkircher-Karl.htm
https://www.wolfganghistorica.com/product/soldbuch-wehrpass-of-ritterkreuztrager-karl-oberkircher-gebirgs-jager-regiment-218/

Ritterkreuz Action of Gerhard Hensel

Gerhard Hensel (24 May 1912 - 26 January 1943) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 26 December 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 15 / 11.Panzer-Division. On 29 July 1941 Oberfeldwebel Hensel and his Zug clashed with double the number of enemy tanks near Manjokowka, with Hensel at the spearhead of his unit. Despite the loss of two of his own Panzers Hensel resolved to carry on the battle, and succeeded in eliminating 6 enemy medium tanks with his Panzer. As a result of this deed the march route for the continued advance of the Division was cleared and it could continue its movement without interruption. Hensel would be awarded the Ritterkreuz for this action.

Source :
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Hensel,_Gerhard
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/signed-private-picture-of-ritterkreuztr%C3%A4ger-gerhard-hensel-panzer-regiment-15
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/85692/Hensel-Gerhard.htm

Ritterkreuz Action of Ernst Alex

Ernst Alex (1 March 1915 - 25 October 1965) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 1 August 1941 as Oberwachtmeister and Zugführer in 1.Kompanie / Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 243 / XXXXIX.Gebirgskorps. The following newspaper article describes why Alex received the Ritterkreuz: “Oberwachtmeister Ernst Alex… was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 1 August 1941. Oberwachtmeister Alex destroyed a total of 10 enemy tanks with his Sturmgeschütz during the tank battle at Jaworow on 26 June 1941 and during a nocturnal attack on the night of the 27-28 June 1941. These swift and determined actions established the appropriate conditions for a rapid advance on Lemberg by his Division [1. Gebirgs-Division]. During this continued forward advance he encountered a Soviet armoured train at the Kopysynac railway station. He opened fire on it from very close range and successfully destroyed its heavy 15-cm gun. Pursuing the enemy closely, his greatest achievement came on 23 July 1941. Fighting at the head of his Division, he secured the crossing over the Bug river at Brazlaf on this day. In the process he became badly wounded.” Alex was awarded the Ritterkreuz for these achievements as well as for reaching a personal total of 27 tanks destroyed.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2009/03/daftar-lengkap-peraih-ritterkreuz.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28078/Alex-Ernst.htm

Ritterkreuz Action of Albrecht Schnittger

Albrecht Schnittger (1 Oktober 1914 - 13 Maret 1943) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 7 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 18 / 6.Infanterie-Division. The following wartime excerpt describes why Schnittger received the Ritterkreuz : “Oberfeldwebel Albrecht Schnitger… received the Ritterkreuz on the 07.10.1942 whilst serving as a Zugführer in an Infanterie-Regiment. This was in recognition of his conscious decision to counterattack a numerically superior Bolshevik force with only a few infantrymen of his own. He and his men succeeded in pushing back the enemy in close combat, a feat which in turn decisively influenced his Division’s successful defensive battle near Rzhev.”

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2343947#p2343947
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/17923/Schnitger-Albrecht.htm