Albert Plapper

Albert Plapper (13 April 1926 – 28 January 1945) was a German infantryman and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Gefreiter Plapper was serving with the Fallschirm-Panzer-Division "HG" when it fought in East Prussia in October 1944. At the time he was a squad leader in the division's second Panzergrenadier regiment. During a large Soviet assault in his sector an MG crew was knocked out by enemy fire, and Plapper took over the weapon and repelled the attack. The Russians later renewed their attack, this time with armour support. Plapper counterattacked their open flank with five men, firing his MG from the hip, however additional Russian tanks threatened to break through his positions nonetheless. Using a Panzerschreck Plapper destroyed five Russian tanks and finally brought the attack to a halt. For his decisive role in preventing a Russian breakthrough, Plapper was awarded the Knight's Cross later that year.

Awards & decorations

 * Iron Cross
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 November 1944 as Gruppenführer 4./Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 "Hermann Göring"