Description
PORTRAIT PHOTO – GENERAL KARL ARNDT – KNIGHTS CROSS & OAKLEAVES WINNER
Original wartime photo. Size – Appx. 9x13cm
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Rank: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 511, 293.Infanterie-Division, XXXV.Armee-Korps, 2.Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte
Awarded on: January 23rd, 1942
The following wartime excerpt describes why Arndt was awarded the Knight’s Cross…
“During the pocket battle east of Kiev, two enemy divisions tried to break through the Division’s lines by utilizing a bridgehead in the area. Additional strong enemy forces launched a surprise attack further north against Arndt’s advancing Regiment. Oberst Arndt immediately decided to order his Regiment to launch a counterattack, and he went on to direct the attack from the roof of a house despite his close proximity to the enemy and the strong hostile artillery fire. This house crumbled underneath him due to the effects of the artillery fire, however the enemy was ultimately defeated. The bold and energetic attack of the Regiment meant that the frontline gap between the friendly and neighboring division was closed by the evening of this day. This success doomed all the enemy’s subsequent breakthrough attempts.”
