Original Wartime Signature on a Wartime Photo of Josef Schneider. Oberfeldwebel Josef Schneider (07.08.1912 † 27.01.2004) earned the Ritterkreuz on January 18, 1944 as Oberfeldwebel und Führer of a Sturmzug in the 5. Kompanie/ Grenadier-Regiment 521 of the 296. Infanterie-Division. Postcardsize.
In November 1943 Oberfeldwebel Schneider led a handful of men into a counterattack against the Soviets. Despite being wounded twice he remained in the fight and was able to recapture the old main line of defense. For his success during this engagement he would receive the Knight’s Cross.
Congratulations letter of Oberfeldwebel Konstantin Hastreiter for earning the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. Oberfeldwebel Hastreiter served with the 6. Kompanie/ Grenadier-Regiment 520 of the 296. Infanterie-Division. The letter is signed by Generalleutnant Arthur Kullmer (Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub, he died in Soviet Captivity). Document has been folded in the past. (Note: My scanner has problems scanning a few shades of whites due that they look brighter).
Original (document from after war!) Gemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger (GdR e.V.) Membership card of Josef Schuß. Obergefreiter Josef Schuß (17.12.1917-29.01.1995) earned the Ritterkreuz on September 4, 1942 as Obergefreiter and MG-Schütze in the 3. Kompanie/ Infanterie-Regiment 520 of the 296. Infanterie-Division. Also signed by him! With photo attached!
Knight's Cross: At 20:15 on the 25.08.1942, east of Leonowo, the Soviets launched an assault on a German defensive line with two regiments plus tank support following a heavy artillery preparation. The defending German unit, the 3./Infanterie-Regiment 520, only had a strength of just 25 men and the Soviets had little difficulty in penetrating the line. From here they threatened to roll up the lines of the entire 296. Infanterie-Division, which had been stretched thin in recent fighting. Without waiting for reserves, the German regimental commander (Oberst Hüttner) assembled an ad-hoc Kampfgruppe with the available forces at hand and launched a counterattack into both flanks of the enemy penetration.Obergefreiter Schuss, a machine-gunner, was charged with giving flank support for the group led by Hüttner himself. By constantly changing positions over the course of several hours he was able to provide effective fire and prevent the Soviets from encircling Hüttner’s group. This was in spite of his own position being enveloped by Soviet infantry as well as the presence of two tanks that blasted his position from close range. He nonetheless continued to play a major role in the counterattack, and eventually he joined the attack itself and brought in several prisoners. The old German line was eventually recaptured, and for his important role in the final outcome Schuss was awarded the Knight’s Cross.
