Eduard Hug – Jäger-Regiment 75 (5. Jäger-Division)

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Eduard Hug. Obergefreiter Eduard Hug (23.09.1921 in Hinterstraß † 24.02.2002 in Donaueschingen) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on September 2, 1944 as Obergefreiter und MG-Schütze in the 1. Kompanie/ Jäger-Regiment 75 of the 5. Jäger-Division.

On the 03.08.1944, during the retreat of the 5. Jäger-Division towards the Liwiec river, a German MG position was knocked out by a direct hit. This left a wide gap in the German frontline without any protection. Obergefreiter and machine-gunner Eduard Hug, positioned in a strongpoint nearby, noticed that the Soviets were breaking into this area without any opposition. He thus left the strongpoint on his own initiative and rushed to the threatened area with his MG. However by this time an enemy half-company had already approached to within a close distance, and there was no time to go into a proper firing position. As such Hug engaged the enemy troops while firing his MG from the shoulder, and was able to disperse the attackers. Now Hug moved to the knocked out strongpoint for a protracted defense, as it was vital to hold this gap in the front. The Soviets attacked him 6 times, but were repulsed each time. During their seventh attempt to overrun the strongpoint, Hug’s MG malfunctioned. Now he began throwing hand grenades at the attackers for the first time. The Soviets hesitated, and their foremost troops pulled back slightly. This brought vital seconds for Hug to get his MG back in working order, and after this he engaged the enemy once more with lethal bursts of fire. During the course of the fighting on this day he would eliminate 3 Soviet MG positions in addition to assaulting foot soldiers. It was only that night that the frontline gap was finally closed by friendly reinforcements. For his brave and outstanding actions, Eduard Hug would be awarded the Iron Cross First Class and later the Knight’s Cross.

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.