Bernhard Sauvant – Panzer-Regiment 24 & schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505 (Tiger) (RK in Stalingrad!)

Original Scarce Wartime Signature on a Paper Slip of Bernhard Sauvant. Oberst Bernhard Sauvant (25.03.1910 in Kutten † 15.04.1967 in Ludwigsburg) earned the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on September 13, 1942; the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on November 30, 1942 as Major and Kommandeur of the I. Abteilung/ Panzer-Regiment 36 and the Eichenlaub on July 28, 1943 as Major und Kommandeur of the schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505 (Tiger!).

Earned the Ritterkreuz during the Battle of Stalingrad!

1) Playing a major role in seizing the Stalingrad tractor factory. By the 14.10.1942 his Panzer-Abteilung had already failed in two attempts to break into the southern and middle portions of the factory. Acting on his own initiative, Sauvant decided to launch a penetration attempt against the northern part of the factory from the sector of the neighbouring Division. This succeeded, and created a chain reaction which eventually led to the fall of the factory to the Germans on the following day.

2) Following this he took control of the Kampfgruppe von Pannwitz, consisting of 12 tanks from the repair shop and manned by maintenance crews. With this scratch force, and without waiting for orders, Sauvant destroyed a large portion of the Soviet 61st Cavalry Division on the 26.11.1942 near Scharnutovski. The next day he led this group north of Kotelnikovo into the rear of the Soviet 81st Cavalry Division, again destroying the bulk of this unit.