Träger des Ritterkreuz des Eiserne Kreuz,
Wachmeister der Reserve Heinrich Engel
by Dieter Stenger, 2000.
Unsigned, open run $15.00
Signed by Heinrich Engel, limited edition run of only twenty $35.00
On 7 September
1943, southeast of Saporoshje in the Ukraine, the German 3rd Gebirgs-Division
was in defensive positions when the Soviets managed to break through the German
lines at Nowolaska. Counterattacking the following day during the early morning
hours just north of the Sea of Azov, Unteroffizier der Reserve and Geschütz-Führer
Heinrich Engel, 2nd Battery, Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 259., was committed with
six other batteries and ninety Gebrigsjäger. From a distance the small force
of German tanks and infantry began to receive enemy fire. Moving forward in
a southeasterly direction, Engel recognized a large number of Soviet tanks
on the attack that were taken under fire. Quickly, Engel's 2nd battery accounted
for three of seventeen Soviet tanks destroyed. As more Soviet tanks entered
the battle, the small force became heavily outnumbered whereby the command
battery and several others were hit. Under heavy fire, the disabled command
battery was placed in tow as the Germans were forced to withdraw. Communication
between the batteries was lost due to the hilly terrain that offered only
limited visibility. After reloading, Engel moved back into position, but this
time alone. Four Soviet T-34 tanks attacked at full speed as two attempted
to outflank Engel's battery. A single shot from their 7.5cm Sturmkanone hit
the tracks of one tank, causing it to halt. A well-placed second shot passed
through the turret when the Gebirgsjäger sounded the alarm, "Tanks in the
trough from the right!" Moving cautiously forward to investigate, Engel spotted
fourteen more Soviet tanks supported by infantry at 700-800 meters. After
making a half-right turn, the Sturmgeschütz opened fire and disabled the lead
T-34 tank. Again, a well-placed second shot destroyed the lead tank whereby
the remaining Soviet tanks began to hesitate and many stopped. With barely
enough strength to manually load and fire the main gun, one after the other
Engel's battery destroyed eleven more Soviet tanks. Two additional Soviet
tanks were destroyed once they were in range by neighboring batteries as they
attempted to outflank Engel's position. In a single day, Engel's battery destroyed
sixteen Soviet tanks, of which twelve were destroyed within twenty minutes.
The Soviet attempt to attack through the defensive line of the 3rd Gebirgs-Division
was prevented by a single Sturmgeschütz. For his galant defense, Unteroffizier
Engel was decorated with the Knight's Cross (Nr. 2279) and promoted to Wachmeister
der Reserve on 8 November 1943.
