"On the 19.07.1941 the reinforced Infantry Regiment 20 (mot) was
holding the Southern edge of Propoisk, itself located near Mogilev. On
this day the regiment had to repel 12 Soviet attacks. One of the most
important individual defenders in this engagement was Oberfeldwebel
Axtmann. The actions that led to his receiving the Knight’s Cross are
described in the following excerpt from his Knight’s Cross
recommendation…
The enemy attacked in regimental strength, overran the frontline and
achieved a 500 meter deep penetration along the river into the flank of
the Regiment. In the face of this disastrous situation, Axtmann took the
place of the fallen company commander and gathered up the remaining
elements of the overrun Züge as well as individual stragglers from other
units. He reordered this hodgepodge of forces and managed to ultimately
push back the enemy on his third attempt at doing so. He did so in such
a way that it was possible to reestablish a continuous frontline
together with those elements that were still holding out and then
subsequently defeat all further enemy attacks. By doing all this
Oberfeldwebel Axtmann had a decisive role in holding the southern edge
of Propoisk on this day, and thereby also ensuring that the bridgehead
remained in the hands of the regiment." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on August 24th, 1941 as Oberfeldwebel in Infantry Regiment 20 of the 10th Infantry Division.
Another capable enemy elite,
Brian
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