Citation EK 2 – 245. Infanterie Division Westfront 1944

Citation for the Iron Cross 2. Class to Gefreiten Diehl.

Diehl was part of Nachrichten Abteilung 245 of the 245. Infanterie Division.

The Division had previously fought in Belgium and the Netherlands around Sluiskil - Oisterwijk - Moergestel.

In late 1944 It was taken out of the front in the Netherlands and send to the Saar region where it arrived from 27 November onwards.

It fought in the area of Pfaffenhoven.

For bravery shown on the battlefield he was awarded the EK 2 on 31 December 1944.

The document was (most probarly) signed by Generalmajor and Divisional commander Gerhard Kegler. (DKIG 1-12-1941, Ehrenbladspange 15-5-1944)

Gerhard Kegler was convicted for disobeing orders while in command of the Wollenberg Division. He was sentenced to Death.

Himmler commuted the death sentence into a different form of punishment: Kegler was demoted to the rank of a common private (Schütze) and sent to the front lines with the Groß-Döberitz Division to "redeem himself" or die in battle. He survived the war after being severely wounded in April

Used condition, has been folded.

code: D26383