Träger des Ritterkreuz des Eiserne Kreuz
SS-Unterscharführer Remi Schrijnen

As a member of the SS-Sturmbrigade "Langemarck," reorganized from the SS-volunteer Legion Flanders, SS-Sturmmann Remi Schrijnen was one of many volunteers that formed the small 200-man Kampfgruppe D'Haese on the Eastern Front around Narwa in June 1944. Organized with a high level of moral imbued by excellent discipline and comradery, the men accepted their coming role as a sacrificial lamb without trepidation. Their task was to slow the Soviet advance moving west and gain enough time for the battered German formations to regroup. Surviving the precursor Soviet artillery barrage that saturated the German defensive positions, Schrijnen watched as a massive Soviet tank-supported infantry assault was launched. Serving as a gunner on a Rheinmetall-Borsig 7,5cm Panzerabwehrkanone (PAK) 40 L/46, Schrijnen and his crew quickly knocked out four Soviet medium T-34 tanks and disabled another two as the Soviet attack developed. A rolling artillery barrage engulfed their anti-tank position when several rounds impacted only 10 meters behind their gun. Wounded by several hot splinters, Schrijnen miraculously survived the steel inferno. His four comrades were not as fortunate. Hand-to-hand combat ensued with sidearms and entrenching tools as the German positions began to waver under the sheer weight of the attack. Heavily outnumbered and overrun, the awaited relief by the III. Germanische Panzerkorps did not materialize and the order to withdraw reached Schrijnen's position. Disobeying the order, Schrijnen remained at his post and continued to fight while the Kampfgruppe withdrew. As the Germans disengaged a new Soviet attack was launched with infantry and tanks to exploit their tactical advantage. Among the several dozen Soviet T-34 tanks Schrijnen recognized many new heavy IS-2 Ioseph Stalin tanks, equipped with a 122mm main gun. Wounded, exhausted, and outnumbered, Schrijnen continued to hold steadfast to his position. Using high-velocity armor-piercing ammunition that could penetrate the 132mm thick Soviet armor, Schrijnen destroyed three Stalin tanks and four additional T-34 tanks. Suddenly a well-placed Soviet projectile hit Schrijnen's position thereby destroying the anti-tank gun and severely wounding him. Shortly after, counterattacking German forces found Schrijnen unconscious among the debris of a violent battle. For his heroic action, Remi Schrijnen was awarded the Knight's Cross, the Wound Badge in Gold, and was promoted to SS-Unterschraführer. Captured in 1945 and released ten years later as a traitor, Schrijnen moved to Germany where he found the comrardery he loved.

 

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