Allegiance Nazi Germany Years of service 1941–44 Name Eberhard Schafer | Service/branch Luftwaffe Unit KG 4 | |
Died 9 April 1944(1944-04-09) (aged 19)
Zamosc, Poland Rank Oberleutnant (Posthumously) | ||
Eberhard Schafer (25 August 1924 – 9 April 1944) was a highly decorated Oberleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Eberhard Schafer was wounded on 6 April 1944 during an attack of Soviet troop concentrations 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Brody. His aircraft was hit by small arms fire, one bullet hitting his sidearm on his belt. The pistol and magazine were torn apart and bullets and fragments pierced his abdomen. Schafer kept his consciousness during the 35-minute return flight. Despite immediate medical attention he died at the field hospital 608 in Zamosc, Poland at 02:30 on 9 April 1944. Generalleutnant Hans Seidemann had presented Schafer the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross at the field hospital on 8 April 1944. He was posthumously promoted to Oberleutnant and awarded the German Cross in Gold.