"On the 08.08.1944 the Soviets advanced with strong forces into the town
of Podleszany (located west of Mielec). The I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 126 launched
a counterattack that pushed the Soviets out of the city, but it was
stopped when it came within range of the Soviet heavy weapons. The
Soviets then renewed their attack and drove the Germans back to
Podleszany.
At this moment Gefreiter Zierhofer, a German machine-gunner in the
1./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 126, dashed across an open street and crawled one
hundred yards closer to an Soviet-held collective farm. From there he
eliminated a Soviet MG nest and its crew, and with his fire support his
comrades were able to move within assault distance of the farm. Zierhofer then took part in the final attack, and while firing his MG
from the hip he and his comrades took control of the collective farm in
close combat. The seizure of this position enabled his company to
succeed in capturing its attack objective.
For his decisive influence on the course of this battle, Zierhofer was awarded the Knight's Cross." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on October 4th, 1944 as Gefreiter of the Panzergrenadier Regiment 126 of the 23rd Panzer Division.
A capable enemy elite,
Brian
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