BRADNER Josef Wilhelm "Sepp" Major Brandner, Josef Wilhelm "Sepp" *September 1st, 1915 (Hohenberg/Lower Austria, Austria) +June 6th, 1996 (Vienna, Austria) Knights Cross: March 17th, 1945 As: Hauptmann Kommandeur Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 912 / 205.Infanterie-Division/ XXXVIII.Panzer-Korps / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Kurland Awarded for his actions during the fighting in Courland. On the first day of the Third Battle of Courland (21.12.1944) he and his Brigade smashed a Soviet armoured spearhead aimed against the Tukkum-Frauenburg road, destroying 26 tanks within a short time. At the time the Brigade was attached to the 11. Infanterie-Division. Brandner himself had reconnoitered the terrain on the day before and so was able to position his Sturmgeschütze in ideal positions for the Soviet attack. He and his unit went on to distinguish themselves in the Fourth and Fifth Battles of Courland. Brandner himself destroyed his 57th tank in the Fourth Battle, and in the Fifth he and his unit closed off a frontline gap near Berlin with the support of the 205. Infanterie-Division. 4761st Award. Oakleaves: April 26th, 1945 As: Major Führer Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 912 / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Kurland Awarded for distinguishing himself with his Brigade during the Sixth Battle of Courland while operating south of Schrunden and in the vicinity of the Matchstick Factory (near Frauenburg). The awarding of the Eichenlaub is according his own testimony. Although there are photos known with him wearing the Eichenlaub, no official confirmation is known. Based on the presumed date of awarding this should be the 846th Award, however numbering of the officially known awards had stopped after the 843rd Award. Nice early signed postwar photo measuring 4" 6" signed on front and back dated 1977 Price: $50.00 Please contact us before ordering to confirm availability and shipping costs. Buy now with your credit card other ways to buy