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    #1

    4X Panzerknacker and Knight's Cross / Battle of Aachen

    Hello,

    I would like to share, for the first time, a group which has taken me over 10 years to acquire. I first saw it offered for sale years ago by another member, however I just didn't have the funds available to get a deal done. During these years I was in contact with the new owner group who was not interested in selling it. After years of wait, this very special group has made it's way into my collection. Many thanks to my friend Petrus!

    Jakob Most was a career solider having fought with the 29. Infanterie Division in the French Campaign (1940) and on the Eastern Front, prior to arriving on the Western Front in Normandy (1944).
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    #2
    Russia
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      #3
      By August on 1944, Most was fighting on the Western Front with the 9. Panzer Division

      9. Panzer was brought up from southern France and engaged against US 1<sup>st</sup> Infantry Division during opening stages of the Falaise Pocket battles, Most is credited with destroying two Sherman tanks with hand grenades, most likely one of the armor units supporting 1<sup>st</sup>. Inf. Div.

      Note the location of Mayenne on the southern end of the Falaise Pocket.
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      Last edited by InfanterieSammler; 09-25-2018, 09:48 AM.

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        #4
        In early September, what was left of the German 7.Armee had limped back behind the Westwall, assuming a defensive posture.

        The Allies trying to take advantage of the weakened state of the German Army, decided to make a push into the Ruhr heading on routes north and south of Aachen. The southern route, a traditional route into Germany was known as the Stolberg Corridor and would become a focal point of the US 7th Corps drive. The stage was set for the "first" Battle of Aachen.
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          #5
          Standing in front of the US 7th Corps defending the Schill line east of Aachen stood the battered remnants of the 9. Panzer Division. By 20 September 9. Panzer was fully engaged against the US 3rd Armored Division in heavy defensive fighting. More specifically, Feldwebel Most's unit (2./Panzer-Aufklärungs Abt. 9) was located on the Donnerberg east of Stolberg.
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            #6
            Over the next 3 days, the men Panzer-Aufklärungs Abt. 9 were in combat against CCB of US 3rd Armored Division. The battalion faced near continuous infantry/armor attacks and heavy shelling by artillery.

             On 24 Sept. Major Bockhoffissued a Battalion order of the day which highlighted the struggles his unithad faced, praising their steadfastness in battle.

            "I express my highest recognition and gratitude to the 2<sup>nd</sup> Company for the defensive battles in the area of Stolberg where it has distinguished itself through extraordinary bravery and greatest steadfastness.

            Rolled over 2-3 times a day by enemy tanks and APC’s, despite fiercest enemy artillery fire and fogging you unshakably held their positions and inflicted great losses to the enemy. Thanks to the heroic actions of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Company, the enemy, constantly attacking with far superior forces was not able to take possession of the Donnerberg, a key point to prevent the enemy breakthrough at Stolberg.

            We remember our fallen comrades and vow to them that their sacrifice will be our obligation in the coming actions."


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            Last edited by InfanterieSammler; 09-25-2018, 10:47 AM.

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              #7
              Great group ! Tom

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                #8
                Over the course of those three days of heavy fighting, Feldwebel Most lead by example, earning the Knight's Cross.

                Note he is credited with single-handedly destroying two more Sherman tanks, bringing his total to four. Sadly, there is no additional TDB document(s) for these kills.

                " His example inspired you all!

                How Sergeant Jakob Most earned the Knight's Cross.

                Sergeant Jakob Most was born on 5 March 1917 in Völkershausen / Rhoen.He is an active NCO. His wife lives in Stammen Kreis Hofgeism.

                Sergeant Most in an Armored Reconnaissance Battalion had already been in numerous struggles as a particularly prudent and responsible NCO. While with his company during the fighting in the area of Stolberg on 21 September and with both officers wounded, Most took the lead of the platoon. There was murderous artillery fire and the Americans attacked with strong tank and motorized infantry forces. They succeeded, rolling over the company one at a time. Most, who had no communication to the battalion, clearly understood the importance of defending the Donnerberg. At that moment, he stripped the left flank and threw all available forces against the right flank where the enemy had broken through. At the head of his men he demonstrated the best example, destroying two Sherman tanks in close combat. Carried away by his courage, the company managed to clean up the breakthrough. The Donnerberg was solidly in her hand again. For two days, the Americans tried in vain with repeated attacks to gain the dominant height. With tremendous strength Most and his men defended it. In recognition of this performance, the proven NCO was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross."
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                Last edited by InfanterieSammler; 09-25-2018, 10:48 AM.

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                  #9
                  By this point, Most had also been decorated with the Close Combat Clasp in Bronze.
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                    #10
                    To put a little perspective on the importance of the 9. Panzer's defense of the Donnerberg in this sector...

                    "The crescendo at Stolberg on 22 September in fact marked the end of the VII Corps"reconnaissance in force" in the LXXXI Corps sector. The Americans had deeply penetrated both bands of the WestWall, especially in the StolbergCorridor, but on the whole the Germans had scored a defensive success in denying VII Corps a decisive breakthrough via Eschweiler to Juelich, Dueren andCologne…The Germans had both emotional and materialistic incentives foroffering such tenacious resistance in this particular area. They were defending the famous WestWall, their own home soil and such historic cities as Aachen. At the same time the contested area was highly industrialized and contained manyvital war production plants. (The Germans Opposite VII Corps, Heichler)"

                    Also, thank you to author, Timm Haasler, for providing me with some additional info from 9. Panzer's KTB.

                    Looking at a comparison of 9. Panzer's “Kampfstärken” reported on 20 Sept 1944 and its “Ausfälle” reported on 22 Sept 1944, 10 out 12 NCO's in Most's company (2./Pz.Aufkl.Abt.9) were listed as casualties. Most was very fortunate to have survived the battle physically unscathed.
                    Last edited by InfanterieSammler; 09-25-2018, 10:49 AM.

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                      #11
                      Without any doubts the best set of documents I know... for obvious reasons!

                      I am going to visit my parents next weekend in Aachen, maybe I´ll find the time to go to Stolberg and take a few pictures of the Donnerberg area for you.


                      Best!


                      Matthias

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                        #12
                        Excellent group of docs!

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                          #13
                          If there was a green-with-envy smilie I would hit it about 20 times for this post.

                          Like you and Matthias, I am particularly interested in the Border Battles between the Germans and Americans, especially in the Aachen and Huertgen Forest area. This is a wonderful group and well worth the wait and investment.

                          On a related basis, I have a posthumous Purple Heart to a PFC with 36th Armoured Infantry Regimnet, 3rd Armoured Divison. He was sadly KIA by a gunshot wound to the head on September 22, 1944. He was quite likely involved in this fighting or close to it.

                          It’s the heart shown below on the right. It will someday be part of an article about the fighting in and around Aachen. It is included here for the time being to support your excellent post and a testament to the hard fighting that took place in the area.
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                            #14
                            Great set of documents
                            The Ritterkreuz document was a nice surprise to pop up while reading!
                            I'm collecting anything related to the towns Castricum and Bakkum during WWII.
                            Also soldbucher from 116pzdiv. And 1944-1945 eastfront pockets, kampfgruppe and Oder front.
                            My website: Gotrick.nl

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                              #15
                              Hello John !

                              Fantastic group of documents and also a great presentation !
                              As long as it took you to finally get this group, you consequently spent a lot of time
                              to present them so nicely. This is real devotion !

                              Best regards,

                              Archi

                              P.S.: Also a nice addition by Brian R !

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