German Forces

Otherwise abled ?

Major (later Oberstleutnant) Hans-Peter Knaust, formal portrait taken in connection with his award of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, 28 September, 1944. Knaust was awarded the KC in connection with his distinguished command of the panzer kampfgruppe (under SS Brigadefuhrer Heinz Harmel) that played a major part in recapturing the Arnhem road bridge from its brave but outnumbered British captors, and subsequently in blocking the British advance through the village of Elst, south of Arnhem - a feat that was achieved largely by keeping the vital road, along which the British advance would have to proceed - under fire from Tiger and Panther tanks in concealed/dug-in positions. Harmel (who had a very successful, but seemingly grumpy time at Arnhem) found Knaust and his men a bit ... unnerving. Knaust's kampgruppe was thrown into battle as an emergency measure. It was in practice a replacement/recuperation unit, containing a high proportion of wounded and even semi-disabled soldiers. Knaust himself was well suited to commanding such a unit - he had lost a leg as a result of a severe wound suffered during the German defence against the Soviet 1941/'42 winter counteroffensive (he was awarded the German Cross in Gold on that occasion). "Alternatively abled" or not, Knaust and his men gave Harmel little cause for complaint on foot (sorry !) of their actual performance. Knaust went on to occupy combat command to the end of the war. Best regards, JR.