Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Josef Preiß. Oberjäger Josef Preiß (24.06.1922 in Michaelsthal † 19.03.2019 in Witten) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzeson April 20, 1945 as Oberjäger und Gruppenführer in the 15. Kompanie/ Jäger-Regiment 227 of the 100. Jäger-Division.
“On the 18.03.1945 Oberjäger Preiss was deployed with his heavy machine-gun in the area south of Rieglitz (4 km north of Neisse). At this time the Russians were launching attacks from the Grottkau area in the direction of Neisse, and they struck Preiss’s defensive sector with powerful forces. The attackers were supported by tanks as well as heavy artillery/mortar fire, whilst the defenders consisted of a hastily assembled collection of units. The enemy achieved a penetration, and they threw back the defenders. Only Oberjäger Preiss and his MG crew (who were now encircled) continued to hold out steadfastly, and they slaughtered a company-sized Russian assault group as well as an anti-tank gun crew that had deployed just before their position. It was only after Preiss had shot off all his ammunition and become wounded himself that he pulled back to the newly constructed front-line, and he managed to get there under the most trying of circumstances. The outstandingly brave resistance that Oberjäger Preiss put up here proved to be battle-deciding. The ruthless and accurate fire of his MG inflicted high losses on the enemy, and it also put paid to their will to continue the attack. This in turn enabled a new frontline to be created, and the result was that the enemy was unable to achieve their aim of advancing to the city of Neisse.”
Provenance: This signature comes from one of the largest postwar signature collection I’ve ever commissioned. This collection was started by a Waffen-SS Veteran, Werner H., in the 1950’s until he passed away.
