THE GERMAN THIRD REICH KNIGHT'S CROSS GROUP OF MEDALS TO OBERGEFREITER JOHANN HOLSTEIN GREN. REGT. 698

*** RESERVED *** Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross , three piece iron magnetic with silver ring frame with 800 stamp by Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid; Bronze Close Combat clasp by C.E. Juncker; Silver Close Combat clasp; Cased Iron Cross 1st class by B.H. Mayer; Iron Cross 2nd Class. Accompanied by original badges and certificates for the awards, including Knight's Cross, and Iron Crosses, congratulations letters of the command, telegram of General Graeser, commander of the 4. Pz Div.

Description

Johann Holstein was born in Ehrang, Trier, Germany on 25 Sep 1913 and joined the Infanterie Regiment 698 as part of the 342nd Infantry Division.

Holstein was first posted to Servia and Croatia where the unit was engaged against partisan forces. Early in 1942, the Division was mobilised in the invasion of the Soviet Union. Holstein was recorded as wounded on 8 Aug 1942 in the Rshew area and awarded with the wound badge in black.

In the spring of 1944, Holstein was awarded the Close Combat Clasp in bronze, and, on 16 Oct 1944, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. According to the congratualations letter from the 56. Panzer Korps, Holstein took command of the 2nd Kompanie of the Grenadier Regiment 698 and held back the Russian army during heavy fighting in the area of Dorohusk-Husynne, Poland just across the Ukrainien border.