RK Juncker Lazy 2 - Awarded 1945

[Albert]

Thanks Jørgen!

As was pointed out before, for some reason such items do not get the attention, judging by the low number of posts, they most certainly deserve.

According to the citation, this guy destroyed four pieces of Soviet armor on one day; three tanks, and an armored recon vehicle:

[Mike Davis]

Splendid set Albert, please send it to me. I hope the recipient is still alive!

[T.Braun]

Albert
That is one of the most exciting groupings I've ever seen. It would be very difficult for me to put that on the market if it were in my possession. WOW!!!four TDB at one time.

[Albert]

Thank you very much. It is also interesting to note that the RKT received the RK for an act of bravery right before the Battle of the Bulge. To me this really makes it special.

[Edgar Estrada]

Beatiful group. I wish I had the money of a Real Madrid football player.

I hope this group will stay together.

Regards

Edgar

[DeMil]

Hi Albert.

This is a realy killer group.
The "Lazy 2" is a beauty.
Lucky is the person that ends up with it

Regards
Derek

[Dave Kane]

Thanks Albert! A beautiful piece of history...

[mdj]

just a stunning group!

Speachless.

[Flemming]

What an amazing group , if only I had the money to buy such things

/Flemming

PS What a story this guy could tell.

[Albert]

Battle of the Bulge

Thanks guys!

As mentioned above, this guy received the RK right before the Battle of the Bulge (act of heroism in Nov. 1944)!

Just to translate the clipping... it's a crude translation but should bring across the idea:

"Ultimate Commitment
How a Duesseldorf man earned the Knight's Cross

Only a few days ago a battle proven Volksgrenadier Division has announced the awarding of a Knight's Cross to one of its Panzergrenadiers.
...
Oberfeldwebel Albert Fabritius, born on January 30th in Duesseldorf, repeatedly distinguished himself through exemplary bravery on various theaters of war. Fabritius was awarded the EK 2 on October 22nd 1942, the IAB on April 20th 1942 and the EK 1 on January 29th 1943. He also received a BWB, an Eastern Front Medal, and four TDBs for the destruction of four Russian tanks in close combat.

On November 18th 1944, after heavy bombing and preparatory artillery shelling, the enemy started a major offensive in the area of E.*. Despite strong resistance, the enemy succeded in entering the city with one regiment. This enabled the enemy to continue its advance and eventualy to breake through German lines. Fabritius quickly realized the danger, gathered some troops and set up positions in theree houses. He inflicted heavy losses upon the attacking enemy. Completely cut off, Fabritius continued fighting and prevented the enemy from breaking through. On November 17th 1944 the Americans assaulted the position of the Oberfeldwebel and Fabritius was taken POW. One thing was clear for him: no matter how high the cost, he would escape! When a fevorable moment came he knocked down his guard and hid till next morning. He tried ten times without luck to make it to the German lines but suceeded only on the eleventh attempt. Tattered and dirty, Fabritius reported back to duty at Bn. HQ. The enemy had already smashed into the German lines there. Not paying any attention to his state of fatigue, Fabritius and some Grenadiers counter-attecked and in a sever fight stopped the American advance.

With his reckless personal engagement and his exemplary courage Overfeldwebel Fabritius prevented the enemy from overrunning the artillery positions. This exemplary action was decisive for the development of the battle in the division's combat sector, and was recognized by the Fuehrer who awarded the Knight's Cross."

*E. stands for Euchen - Würselen which is in the Aachen area. All this took place right before the Battle of the Bulge and is historicaly linked to this legendary campaign at the Western front

[Jono]

Thanks guys!

Derek, well, it could be you

As mentioned above, this guy received the RK at the Battle of the Bulge (act of heroism in Nov. 1944)! He fought with a few men against the attack of much superior US forces in the Aachen area, and "saved" his division by stopping / delaying the advance in a stratigic point. In fact, the first time his position was overrun by the Americans and he was taken POW. At the first opportunity, he knocked out his guard and escaped. Hid for a while but made it back to German lines right in time for another US attack and, despite being heavyly fatigued, again demonstrated extra ordinary bravery! This earned him the RK.

If he won the RK in 1944, then why does the RK document in the first pic have a 1945 date on it?

[Anthony N]

Thanks guys!

Derek, well, it could be you

As mentioned above, this guy received the RK at the Battle of the Bulge (act of heroism in Nov. 1944)! He fought with a few men against the attack of much superior US forces in the Aachen area, and "saved" his division by stopping / delaying the advance in a stratigic point. In fact, the first time his position was overrun by the Americans and he was taken POW. At the first opportunity, he knocked out his guard and escaped. Hid for a while but made it back to German lines right in time for another US attack and, despite being heavyly fatigued, again demonstrated extra ordinary bravery! This earned him the RK.

I am a little confused here. I have read deeds of heroism that are as great as this but did not receive the RK. I have heard that they would go to a high ranking officer & no more would be awarded to those of lesser rank.
Infact i have read of a soldier who destroyed 8 Russian tanks in one day, was put forward for the RK but it went to the General instead, i would think for planning of the battle.
I have read also from the same division some soldiers were trapped behind enemy lines for several days, 2 officers spent those days bringing back an injured colleague only moving at night & during the day digging themselves into snow banks. Arriving back exhausted they refused to go to the rear for treatment & dissapeared back though the enemy lines to re-join their comrades & then both officers led the attack that finally took the large bunker they had originally been targeting before they were cut off. Again these soldiers did not win an RK.
So the question is were there limits to how many could awarded for the same battle to the same Division?
By the way, superb grouping, glad you shared it as i will never afford to own one!
Ant

[Albert]

If he won the RK in 1944, then why does the RK document in the first pic have a 1945 date on it?

Because the paper work had to be put it, go thru the whole approval process, wait in the pipeline, and finaly get officialized. Depending on cercumstances this took weeks, months, and even years... You didn't really think it was all done on the same day in the trenches, did you

[Ludwig]

Outstanding!!!

[Albert]

Ant,

I don't think there were limits. I am sure such things were interepreted individualy and depended on a lot of circumstances. The tactical / strategic importance played a role on "small man's" level. While going back and forth under enemy fire to recover wounded and taking a bunker certainly is a heroic deed, if it didn't have a tactival and/ or strategic component it might bot earn the guy more than an EK2 or an EK1 if he already had the EK2.

This guy did something that "saved the division". So the Div. Commander could hardly claim the RK for himself for messing up in first place and then having an NCO save his ass...

But, even from the perspective of the soldiers back then, the award criteria was neither transparent nor considered as fair. An RK recepient waiting for his Oaks wrote to his wife that he felt cheated by the command. He had more kills already than other OL winners and still had to wait for his. He wrote literaly: "... if I only served in a theater of operation that gets more attention, I already would have my oaks..."