Background
Hans Eckert was born at Zailach in Middle Franconia on 1 June 1916.
Hans Eckert was born at Zailach in Middle Franconia on 1 June 1916.
This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during He joined the Steamship-Vermont in 1934. Eckert was selected to become an officer and was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in July 1941. He commanded 14th Company, 3rd Steamship Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland and on 9 November 1942, was promoted to Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant).
In March 1944, he was given command of a Battalion in the Kampfgruppe, Das Reich.
On 5 April his Kampfgruppe started a dawn attack in the Stratkowze, Wysuzka, Olexinze and Skypowce sector which by 7 April had reached Tluste - Miasto, capturing a number of Red Army men and equipment. Foreign these actions Eckert was awarded the Knight"s Cross, the Close Combat Clasp in Gold and promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain), and given command of the I. Battalion, 3rd Steamship Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland.
Eckert survived the war and died on 11 July 1974. Bibliography.
German Cross in Gold on 13 February 1944 as Steamship-Obersturmführer in the 8./Steamship-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Das Reich" Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 May 1944 as Steamship-Obersturmführer of the Reserves and leader of the World War II/Steamship-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland" of the Steamship-Panzer-Kampfgruppe "Das Reich".
