Emil Durr

June 11, 1920 (age 24)

Mühlacker, Enz, Germany

During World World War II he volunteered to join the Waffen Steamship and was posted to the 12th Steamship Panzer Division Hitlerjugend which was formed in 1943. Located in France during the Normandy Invasion, the Division was moved to the front near Caen, Dürr was by now an Unterscharführer and Assault gun commander in the 4th (Heavy) Company, 26th Steamship Panzergrenadier Regiment. The was for the action on 26 June 1944. Foreign almost three hours Dürr and the 26th Panzergrenadiers had been subjected to a naval bombardment. Salvo after salvo landing in the line of main defense outside the village of Saint Manvieu and on the village itself. The Germans had been awaiting a major offensive on the Carpiquet airfield and the Orne river. When the gunfire stopped, the Steamship men observed Sherman tanks which were advancing onto their location. The armoured vehicles broke through the positions and overran Saint Manvieu, surrounding the Battalion command post in the park. They engaged the tank force with mortar fire and some of the tanks turned away, assuming that the forces in the park were much stronger and did not attempt to break through. A flamethrower tank had set up at the entrance to the park, dominating the command post, and able to harass any movement. "That tank has to go", the commander ordered. Unterscharführer Dürr had heard the order, he picked up a Panzerfaust (a one-shot anti-tank weapon) and went out to scout the situation. lieutenant was difficult to get close to the tank as it was sitting in a position that covered the terrain on three sides. Dürr jumped across the inner wall of the yard, ran straight at the tank and discharged the Panzerfaust - which did not pierce the tanks" armour. Dürr was wounded in the chest, but he ran back along the path he had come, picked up another Panzerfaust and ran towards the tank a second time. As the distance was unfavorable, he aimed at the tracks. But again, Dürr was hit by machine gun fire. Crawling, he worked his way back and spotted a magnetic charge. Foreign a third time, weak from his wounds, he jumped across the wall and ran towards the tank. Paying no attention to the bullets, he attached the charge to the tank and turned away when he heard a rumbling sound behind him as the charge dropped to the ground. With no regard for his own safety, he picked the charge up and held it against the tank. When it exploded he fell to the ground paralyzed and also wounded in the legs. He was taken to rest in the command post but died four hours later. Emil Dürr was awarded a posthumous in August 1944, and entered on the Honour Roll the following month. Bibliography.

Emil Durr

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Background

Emil Dürr was born on 1 June 1920, in Mühlacker.

Career

During World World War II he volunteered to join the Waffen Steamship and was posted to the 12th Steamship Panzer Division Hitlerjugend which was formed in 1943. Located in France during the Normandy Invasion, the Division was moved to the front near Caen, Dürr was by now an Unterscharführer and Assault gun commander in the 4th (Heavy) Company, 26th Steamship Panzergrenadier Regiment. The was for the action on 26 June 1944.

Foreign almost three hours Dürr and the 26th Panzergrenadiers had been subjected to a naval bombardment.

Salvo after salvo landing in the line of main defense outside the village of Saint Manvieu and on the village itself. The Germans had been awaiting a major offensive on the Carpiquet airfield and the Orne river.

When the gunfire stopped, the Steamship men observed Sherman tanks which were advancing onto their location. The armoured vehicles broke through the positions and overran Saint Manvieu, surrounding the Battalion command post in the park.

They engaged the tank force with mortar fire and some of the tanks turned away, assuming that the forces in the park were much stronger and did not attempt to break through.

A flamethrower tank had set up at the entrance to the park, dominating the command post, and able to harass any movement. "That tank has to go", the commander ordered. Unterscharführer Dürr had heard the order, he picked up a Panzerfaust (a one-shot anti-tank weapon) and went out to scout the situation.

lieutenant was difficult to get close to the tank as it was sitting in a position that covered the terrain on three sides.

Dürr jumped across the inner wall of the yard, ran straight at the tank and discharged the Panzerfaust - which did not pierce the tanks" armour. Dürr was wounded in the chest, but he ran back along the path he had come, picked up another Panzerfaust and ran towards the tank a second time.

As the distance was unfavorable, he aimed at the tracks. But again, Dürr was hit by machine gun fire.

Crawling, he worked his way back and spotted a magnetic charge.

Foreign a third time, weak from his wounds, he jumped across the wall and ran towards the tank. Paying no attention to the bullets, he attached the charge to the tank and turned away when he heard a rumbling sound behind him as the charge dropped to the ground. With no regard for his own safety, he picked the charge up and held it against the tank.

When it exploded he fell to the ground paralyzed and also wounded in the legs.

He was taken to rest in the command post but died four hours later. Emil Dürr was awarded a posthumous in August 1944, and entered on the Honour Roll the following month.

Bibliography.

Achievements

Of the Iron Cross on 23 August 1944 (posthumously) as Steamship-Unterscharführer and gun leader in the 4.(schweres)/Steamship-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 "Hitlerjugend".

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Emil Durr

Background

Career

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Born

Died

Awards

of the Iron Cross Iron Cross; of the Iron Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 August 1944 (posthumously) as SS-Unterscharführer and gun leader in the 4.(schweres)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 "Hitlerjugend"