Friedrich Pein
| Friedrich Pein | |
|---|---|
| Born |
20 October 1915 Spitz in Radkersburg District, Styria (Austria) |
| Died |
14 February 1975 (aged 59) Mureck in Radkersburg District, Styria (Austria) |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Years of service | 1938 - 1945 |
| Rank | Oberjäger |
| Unit | 2./JägRgt 227 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Iron Cross 2nd & 1st class Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Friedrich Pein (October 20, 1915 - February 14, 1975) was a renowned Austrian sniper with the German army during World War II, and one of two to have been awarded the Ritterkreuz (the other being Matthias Hetzenauer; sometimes Josef Allerberger is also referred to as a Knight's Cross recipient, however no evidence sustaining his claim prevailed World War II).
The son of a farmer, he enlisted in the Wehrmacht in October 1938. His first combat role came as a sniper in the 12th company Gebirgsjägerregiment 143 serving in the Soviet Union.
At the start of 1944, he was transferred to the 2nd Company Jäger-Regiment 227 where he served in the Adolf Grubinger Group. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on December 1, and eight days later was awarded the 1st Class.
On February 28, 1945, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross marking his 200th kill as a sniper, and that spring also saw him awarded the Close Combat Clasp.
Over the course of the war, he was wounded three times before being captured and held as a POW.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (1 December 1944)
- 1st Class (9 December 1944)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 February 1945 as Oberjäger and sniper in the 2./Jäger-Regiment 227[1]
References
- Citations
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 334.
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links
- "das-ritterkreuz.de". Friedrich Pein. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
- "flickr". Friedrich Pein. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
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