"On the 13.12.1943 the Soviets attacked the so called "Finger position"
south of Puschkin, near Leningrad, and were able to capture a portion of
it. Zeller independently led his subordinate 10. Kompanie and the
attached 2. Kompanie into a counterattack to fully recapture the lost
ground. With machine-pistol in hand, he succeeded in recapturing most of
the lost ground over the course of 3 and a half hours. The last 150 meters of ground were eventually taken and subsequently lost to a Soviet
counterattack. However the following day Zeller continued the attack
and recaptured the position for good." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on January 5th, 1944 as Hauptmann der Reserve, Kommandeur I. / Grenadier-Regiment 380 / 215.Infanterie-Division.
"In the defensive battle south of Pskov, on the 31.03.1944, the Soviets
captured the town of Krapiwinka and from there threatened the road
Pskov—Ostrow. In response Hauptmann Zeller re-positioned his forces to
shield his south flank and launched a counterattack with his reserve
Kompanie and 6 Sturmgeschütze from Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 184, and was
able to retake Krapiwinka. Two further breakthroughs at Stremutka and
Letowo were also defeated that day, with the result that the main
defensive line of the Regiment could be held.
Over the course of a 7 day period the next April Zeller was involved in
defeating a total of 55 Soviet attacks, leading 10 counterattacks in the
process. His contributions were a key factor in the German resistance
and the consequent holding of the front line." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves citation, awarded on June 9th, 1944 as
Hauptmann der Reserve, Kommandeur III. / Grenadier-Regiment 380 / 215.Infanterie-Division.
Hauptmann der Reserve, Kommandeur III. / Grenadier-Regiment 380 / 215.Infanterie-Division.
Another capable enemy,
Brian
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