Johann Schwerdfeger

Johann Schwerdfeger (born 24 November 1914) is a non-commissioned officer who served in the German army during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (medals recognising extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership).

The film Cross of Iron is based upon the novel The Willing Flesh, by Willi Heinrich, published in 1956; it may be loosely based on Schwerdfeger's story.

Service history
Schwerdfeger soldiered from 1935 to 1937 in Infanterie Regiment 84, and in 1939 was transferred to the Third Company of Infanterie Regiment 186 of the 73rd Infantry Division, at the Polish Campaign's start. In June 1942, after serving in Jägerersatzbataillon 75, Schwerdfeger joined Jäger Regiment 228 of the 101st Jäger Division, who fought in the Don Bend, at Rostov, and at Maikop, in the Caucasus, and joined the retreat through the Kuban and the Taman Peninsula, the setting of the novel Das Geduldige Fleisch (The Willing Flesh). On 17 May 1943 Schwerdfeger was awarded the Knight's Cross as a platoon leader in the First Company. In April 1944, in the breakout from Hube's Pocket, he was severely wounded, and was awarded Oak Leaves for his Knight's Cross on 14 May 1944; moreover, Sergeant Schwerdfeger also earned two tank destruction badges. Schwerdfeger was able to recover from his wounds sustained in Hube's Pocket and served the remainder of the war.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (19 June 1940)
 * 1st Class (19 November 1942)
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Black (?)
 * in Silver (?)
 * Infantry Assault Badge
 * Kuban Shield
 * 2 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 17 May 1943 as Feldwebel and platoon leader in the 1. / Jäger-Regiment 228
 * 474th Oak Leaves on 14 May 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and platoon leader in the 1. / Jäger-Regiment 228