Germany – Third Reich. The Orel Iron Cross 2nd Class and subsequent Operation Citadel Casualty Document Group including the rare award of the Driver’s Proficiency Badge in Gold to Stabsgefreiter Horst Westphal, 1st Company, 19th Panzer Signals Battalion, 19th Panzer Division, who was wounded on 12th July 1943, the decisive day in the Battle of Kursk (Operation Citadel). Earlier having received the Iron Cross in August 1942, he went onto fight in support of the Italian 8th Army helping stem the tide of the Russian Offensive as a result of the German defeat at Stalingrad, the attack at Kursk, and the Retreat through the Ukraine during the Autumn of 1943, and most likely during the Battle of the Kamenets-Podolsky (Hube) Pocket.
A good and scarce bravery document group which belonged to a former Junior NCO in the Signals Arm of the German Army during WW2. The scarceness of the group is based on the fact that the group contains a good example of the very scarce Driver’s Proficiency Badge in Gold. This would indicate that he was probably employed as a driver in the Battalion. Despite this non-combatant role he was not only awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class but also wounded. This wounding took place on 12.7.43 during Operation Citadel (The Battle of Kursk) on the last day before this famous Operation was called off and a general withdrawal took place.
Award certificates:
a)The Iron Cross 2nd Class, awarded in the field on 24.8.42 as an Obergefreiter, 1/19th Panzer Signals Battalion. Signed by Schmidt as Generalmajor and General Officer Commanding 19th Panzer Division
Schmidt was awarded the Knights Cross on 4.9.40 as Oberst, CO 74 Infantry Regiment, 19th Infantry Division, the 203rd Oakleaves on 6.3.43 as Generalleutnant and General Officer Commanding 19th Panzer Division and the German Cross in Gold on 22.4.42 as Oberst and Commander of 19th Rifle Brigade, 19th Rifle Division. Schmidt committed suicide on 7.8.43 to avoid capture near Beresovka near Belgorod.
b)The Driver’s Proficiency Badge in Silver, awarded in the field on 5.7.43, as an Obergefreiter 1/19th Pz Signals Battalion. Signed by von Vacano as Hauptmann and Battalion Commander
Von Vacano was commissioned as a Leutnant on 1.4.37 into 41st Signals Battalion (I Army Corps) and promoted to Major on 1.1.44 in 19th Panzer Signals Battalion which he had commanded since 1.6.43.
c)The Wound Badge in Black, awarded in the field on 1.8.43 (for a wound received on 12.7.43), as an Obergefreiter, 1/19th Panzer Signals Battalion. Signed by von Vacano as Hauptmann and Battalion Commander
d)The Driver’s Proficiency Badge in Gold, awarded in the field on 12.12.43 as an Obergefreiter 1/19th Panzer Signals Battalion. Signed by von Vacano as Hauptmann and Battalion Commander
e)The War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords awarded in the field on 3.2.44 as an Obergefreiter, 1/19th Panzer Signals Battalion. Signed by Kallner as Generalmajor and GOC 19th Panzer Division.
Kallner was awarded the Knights Cross on 3.5.42 as Oberst and Commanding Officer 73rd Rifle Regiment, 19th Panzer Division, the 392nd Oakleaves on 12.2.44 as Generalmajor and General Officer Commanding 19th Panzer Division and the 106th Swords on 23.10.44 as Generalleutnant and General Officer Commanding 19th Panzer Division. Kallner was killed in action on 18th April 1945 as Generalleutnant and General Officer Commanding XXIV Army Corps near Sokolnica in the Olmutz area.
It is unknown when Hors Westphal joined 19th Panzer Signals Battalion or began active service, but the 19th Panzer Division saw extensive action during the conflict on the Eastern Front, it took part in a number of the major offensives, including the early days of Operation Barbarossa, and suffered such heavy losses in the first two months that by August one of its Tank Battalions had been disbanded. It then took part in the heavy fighting around Velikiye Luki in August, before engaging in the Battle of Moscow.
During the defence against the Russian counteroffensive the Division suffered such heavy losses that it needed to disband another of its Tank Battalions leaving it with just one.
Having spent the majority of 1942 on the Central Front in the area of Yelnya and Orel during which time Westphal was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 24th August 1942, The 19th Panzer Division at the end of the year was moved south to assist the Italian 8th Army in fending off the Soviet offensives that came about as a result of the German encirclement and eventual defeat at Stalingrad.
Later in 1943 the Division took part in Operation Citadel the German attack at Kursk where it suffered heavy casualties in the area of Belgorod (on the southern arm of the attack). It was on the first day of the attack that Westphal was awarded the Driver’s Proficiency Badge in Silver. Being wounded on 12th July 1943, the decisive day of the Battle, he was subsequently awarded the Black Wound Badge in the field on 1st August 1943.
The Division was involved in the retreat through Ukraine including around the area of Kiev which was liberated by the Soviets in November 1943.
Westphal received the Driver’s Proficiency Badge in Gold on 12th December 1943, and was then awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords on 3rd February 1944. Shortly after this the 19th Panzer Division was involved in the escape of the 1st Panzer Army from the Kamenets-Podolsky pocket in April 1944.
After this point it was sent to the Netherlands for refitting, it is unknown whether Westphal survived the war, but with no further awards after this date, it is possible that Westphal may have been wounded or killed in the intense fighting involved in the partial escape of the units from the pocket.
After refitting in the Netherlands, 19th Panzer Division was recalled to the Eastern Front after the crisis caused by the collapse of Operation Bagration in the summer of 1944, it then assisted in the quelling of the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, after the opening of the Soviet Winter Offensive of January 1945, the division was forced to retreat south-westwards, through Breslau and into Czechoslovakia eventually surrendering to the Soviets near Prague in May 1945