"During the heavy defensive combat in the southern sector of the Eastern Front his division repeatedly defeated fierce Bolshevik breakthrough
attempts in an exceptional display of bravery. Then, when the great
offensive began in July 1942, General Turanec and his Slovakians also
joined in the attack. After the Mius position had been overrun the general led his regiments forwards whilst leading from the foremost line
himself. Under his aggressive leadership the division was already able
to reach the Tusloff river on the first day. Here the enemy proved
unable to halt the victorious forward march despite offering fierce
resistance. Guided by the outstanding planning and leadership of General
Turanec, the Slovakian regiments were able to breach the enemy lines as
the first to do so in this battle sector.
By the evening of the same day they had been able to fight into the city
of Rostov itself and reach the Don river following fierce urban combat.
Clearly recognizing the situation for what it was, General Turanec
decided to immediately force a crossing over the Don. He thus crossed
the river with his lead elements, cleared the Don island in bitter close
combat and created a bridgehead on the river’s southern bank that would
prove to be of great future operational value. This took place even as
bitter combat still raged in the city itself.
The award of the Knight’s Cross to General Turanec is not only a
recognition of his personal dutifulness and inspiring leadership, but
also a testament to the bravery of his Slovakian regiments. Under his
command they fight alongside the German Heer for a new European order in
a brilliant display of comradeship." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on August 7th, 1942 as Major General and commander of the Slovak Fast Division.
Another enemy elite,
Brian & Mel
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