Original Postwar Signature of Emil Roßmann. Emil Rossmann (23.04.1920 † 20.01.2003) earned the Ritterkreuz on October 23, 1944 as Leutnant der Reserve and Führer of the I. Abteilung/ Panzer-Regiment 26 of the 26. Panzer-Division. He also earned the Panzerkampfabzeichen V. Stufe (Einsatzahl “100”) with Panzer-Regiment “Kurmark” of the Panzergrenadier-Division “Kurmark”. Measuring 8×12,3 cm.
Knight’s Cross recommendation: On 06.10.1944 Leutnant Roßmann and his Kompanie of six Panthers were ordered to cover the retreat of Kampfgruppe Langkeit as it pulled out of the Tryskiai area back to Windau. When the Soviets engaged Roßmann with their hard-pressing forces, Roßmann destroyed 3 tanks before a hit from a Soviet T-34 knocked out his tank’s radio. That night he covered the retreat of the rest of his Kompanie all on his own. In the morning however he discovered that Soviet troops had already bypassed him and established themselves between him and the rest of the Kampfgruppe. Enemy tanks were preparing to attack.
Roßmann decided to break out. His first move was to strike the enemy tank assembly area in order to destroy the most dangerous foe. In just a few minutes he destroyed 6 T-34s and 8 AT guns, and put the remaining enemy to flight. As he proceeded back to the Kampfgruppe he destroyed a further 13 enemy AT guns and a supply column before linking up with his own troops successfully.
