Postwar Signature of Knight’s Cross Holder Gustav Lombard. Lombard earned the Bandenkampfabzeichen in Silber, Deutsches Kreuz in Gold and Ritterkreuz as Cdr. of SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 1. Signed on the reverse.
“SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 1, under the leadership of SS-Obersturmbannführer Lombard, was positioned in the area of Belousovo-Sergejebka on the evening of the 25.11.1942 as an OKH reserve. Lombard had received instruction only to deploy if specially ordered to. Just as he arrived in his assigned area, a driver of the 2. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division reported that the enemy had broken through near Romanovo with about 100 tanks and 200-300 men. The 2. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division was called, but no confirmation of this message could be obtained. Lombard immediately sent out several reconnaissance patrols, which confirmed that the Russians had indeed broken through with about 25 tanks and 300-400 men at Cholomedina.
Without waiting for the orders to attack, Lombard advanced on his own initiative through the forest north of Belousovo. They overran weak enemy security forces on the northern edge of the forest and attacked immediately. The troops used moonlight to see their way through where necessary, as it was still night and SS-Obersturmführer Lombard won that advantageous position for the Regiment. This enabled him to hold the line before the Russians arrived and to support the right flank of the 2. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division. His position was successful in preventing a further enemy advance, as it was only a matter of hours since the German lines had been penetrated to a depth of 15 km. There had been no noticeable resistance, which would have stopped the advance of the opponent. To fool the Russians about the length of their defensive front, which had no deep penetrations but was lengthy on the flanks, Lombard sent out strong patrols strengthened by an anti-tank gun to fool the opponent operating on the right flank. They were successful in holding the positions of the Regiment until the next night, when SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 2 lengthened the front to the east and with that eliminated the threat on the flank.
During the next day the enemy was not very active. With carefully planned artillery fire, Lombard was able to spoil any enemy attack preparations. The positions of the Regiment had to be improved in order to be able to carry out a larger defensive action successfully. Again, Lombard decided to give the order to attack and took Okuliza and Knjashe. At the same time, the cornerstone of Medvodevo was cleverly seized by an advance Squadron component. As statements by prisoners confirmed, the opponent intended on attacking but could not carry this out due to the German’s artillery interference and the attack which followed. Lombard’s command could not report these happenings because the signals units had not yet arrived due to a lack of fuel. In the following defensive battles, the Regiment suffered heavy casualties for men, NCOs and officers.
During the decisive moments, SS-Obersturmbannführer Lombard was always to be found at the most dangerous points. He rallied his subordinates with his composure. Through these two decisive measures, which he decided upon himself, the breakthrough was decisively stopped.
SS-Obersturmbannführer Lombard is especially worthy of this honour because he repeatedly distinguished himself through his own decisions and devotion to duty already during the winter of 1941/42.”
