Rcross the front line in the east, panzergrenadiers prepared or the Soviet assault. Panzergrenadiers launched local ounter-attacks, as in the areas of the Baltic republics not et taken by the Soviets. In one such attack, a platoon sader’s APC was advancing at speed on the road to the ovn of Kursenei. As the halftrack rolled around a hidden lend in the road, the APC and its occupants found itself boking down the barrel of a 150mm Soviet howitzer, a few aetres from the APC. There was nothing to do but get out nd storm the gun. As the panzergrenadiers poured out of
Above: Panzergrenadiers clearing out defenders from a fortified farmhouse on the Eastern Front. The panzergrenadiers were regularly called upon to perform such tasks, to remove any potential risk to the precious German tanks.
The APC, the half-track began reversing back around the bend. Soviet infantry in the woods engaged the attacking panzergrenadiers, wounding several before Unteroffizier Roger leaped onto the running board of the gun tractor and emptied his sub-machine gun into the driver’s cab. The rest of the Soviet gun crew chased Roger under the gun carriage, but before they could deal with him, German reinforcements arrived. For this and other brave deeds, Roger received the Knight’s Cross at the end of August 1944.
World History
