Karl Eibl and the Officers of 44. Infanterie-Division

Officers of 44. Infanterie-Division in Vienna, Ostmark. The Ritterkreuzträger facing the camera is Oberst Karl Eibl (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 132), the latter Schwerterträger. The 44. Infanterie-Division was formed on 1 April 1938 in Wien, Austria following the Anschluss from the 2. Division and 3. Division of the Austrian Army, the Österreichischen Bundesheer. It was mobilized in August 1939 as part of the 1. Welle (wave). The division took part in the campaign in Poland, advancing into the area allocated to the USSR. It later fought in the west suffering heavy losses against stiff French resistance. After the French surrender the division spent ten months on occupation duty and in March 1941 it was transferred to Poland for training. It took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union on the southern sector of the front fighting at the Pripet Marshes and at Kiev. It took part in the fighting in the Caucasus area before advancing to Stalingrad where it was destroyed in January 1943.
The division was reformed on 17 February 1943 and on 1 June 1943 redesignated (44.) Reichs-Grenadier-Division Hoch und Deutschmeister.

 

Source :
https://www.axishistory.com/books/150-germany-heer/heer-divisionen/3355-44-infanterie-division
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2450676#p2450676

Ritterkreuz Action of Martin Eder

Martin Eder (22 December 1902 - 6 April 1983) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 28 November 1940 as Hauptmann and Führer I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 481 / 256.Infanterie-Division. The following wartime excerpt describes why Eder would be awarded the Ritterkreuz: "On 26 May 1940, during the fighting for the Lys Canal (near Ecclee), Hauptmann Eder took up the leadership of the battle on his own initiative. He forced a crossing over the canal with his Kompanie and penetrated to a depth of 4 km into the enemy positions. He then held this position against violent enemy counterattacks, and in doing so enabled his Regiment to thrust through the forest positions near Cleith on the following day. This in turn led to the capitulation of the Belgian army on 28 May 1940."

The following press article provides some additional comments on this action: "Hauptmann Eder already outstandingly distinguished himself during the breakthrough of the Peel position near Mill. Here he placed himself at the head of his assault units and captured four bunkers that were flanking the anti-tank ditch all on his own. Later, at the Lys canal, he forced a crossing over the canal at the head of his Kompanie and penetrated 4 km deep into the enemy position. This action enabled the Regiment to launch its own thrust near Cleith, which led to the capitulation of the Belgian army. Hauptmann Eder also forced the canal crossing near Nieuport, held his position against tank-led counterattacks and thereby established the preconditions for the destruction of the Royal Fusileers and the capture of a substantial amount of British war materiel that would otherwise have been shipped to England."

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2380019#p2380019
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/3878/Eder-Martin.htm

Ritterkreuz Action of Rudolf Bittner

Rudolf Bittner (18 December 1921 - 21 January 1945) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 28 November 1942 as Gefreiter and Richtkanonier in 2.Kompanie / Panzerjäger-Abteilung 561. The medal was awarded for his actions on 9 September 1942. On this day the Soviets broke into the German frontline near Uwarowa, and Bittner would rise to the challenge in response to this dangerous situation. A detailed description of these actions is provided by an Abteilung special order from the start of December 1942: “… The Russians intended to turn this initial success into a breakthrough, and they carried on their attack with strong infantry forces while deploying 5 KV-1 tanks for flank protection. A German counterthrust collapsed under their fire. However the gunner of Unteroffizier Brill’s gun crew, Gefreiter Bittner, destroyed 4 of these tanks and damaged the fifth in such a way that it was forced to withdraw. This created the possibility of launching a counterthrust into the enemy’s now open flank. The breakthrough was prevented, and one of the more commanding positions for the entire sector was recaptured. The most noteworthy part of this battle-deciding deed was that Bittner had changed positions beforehand in order to have a better field of fire. As a Pak gunner he has by now destroyed a total of 23 enemy tanks.”

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=5
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28470/Bittner-Rudolf.htm