Konrad Steets

Konrad Steets (30 March 1926 – 11 June 1948) 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 Steets was a messenger in the Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 "Hermann Göring" during the battles in East Prussia in late 1944. He was to distinguish himself during the course of this fighting. On 19 October he was prevented from delivering a message due to the presence of two Soviet anti-tank guns in good positions. Him and several comrades were able to approach the anti-tank guns and destroy them with explosives, enabling the necessary dispatch to be delivered. Five days later, on 24 October, he observed an enemy battalion preparing to attack the boundary between his company and the neighbouring one. Acting completely alone he crept forward and allowed the advancing Russian infantry to pass by, and then opened fire from a range of less than 200 meters. It was in situations like this where the murderous rate of fire of the MG 42 spoke for itself, and soon 100 Russians lay dead and the remainder fled. The Russians lay down artillery fire on his position but he retreated from his hole, returning to it when the barrage had lifted. He then repelled the next attack, during which a squad of Russians was able to get very close to his positions. He killed eight of them and took the remaining three prisoner. Despite his very low rank of Gefreiter, his repelling a large Russian infantry attack all by himself did not go unrecognized and he received the Knight's Cross.

His CO described Steets as "the best and most willing soldier" in his battalion.

Awards & decorations

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