Helmut Banaski – Grenadier-Regiment 1077 (542. Volks-Grenadier-Division)

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Helmut Banaski. Leutnant Helmut Banaski (08.06.1921 † 05.01.2011) earned the Ritterkreuz on February 18, 1945 as Leutnant with the Stabskompanie/ Grenadier-Regiment 1077 of the 542. Volks-Grenadier-Division.

Knight’s Cross: “On the 17.01.1945 the Soviets succeeded in penetrating through the German Wkra Position in the Nasielsk area, specifically between the 542. Volksgrenadier-Division and 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”. In response Major Kopp (the commander of Volksgrenadier-Regiment 1077) decided to entrust the task of throwing back the enemy here to Leutnant Banaski and his reinforced Pionier Zug, which was the regimental reserve. Leutnant Banaski commenced his countermoves with all the forces he had at his disposal, namely his Pionier Zug, the remnants of I. Bataillon, all available staff soldiers and an operational Sturmgeschütz Kompanie (all totalling some 250 men). He and his men succeeded in sealing off the penetration in close combat and encircling some of the attacking Soviet forces. Banaski and his Kampfgruppe captured 200 Soviet prisoners as well as a number of tanks and mortars. This brought the Soviet attack to a halt, and the Division was given the opportunity to withdraw to a fall-back position in an orderly manner. Banaski’s actions furthermore permitted the escape of a German field hospital as well as thousands of refugees.” (Source: Traces of War)

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.