- Friedrich Pein
Infobox Military Person
name=Friedrich Pein
lived=20 October ,1915 –14 February ,1975
placeofbirth=Spitz in Radkersburg,Styria (Austria )
placeofdeath=Mureck in Radkersburg,Styria (Austria )
caption=
nickname=
allegiance=Germany
serviceyears=
rank=Oberjäger
unit=2./JägRgt 227
battles=
awards=Iron Cross 2nd & 1st classKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross Friedrich Pein (
October 20 1915 –February 14 ,1975 ) was a renowned Germansniper duringWorld War II , and one of three to have been awarded the "Ritterkreuz"(anothers two wereJosef Allerberger andMatthias Hetzenauer ).The son of a farmer, he enlisted in the
Wehrmacht in October 1938. His first combat role came as a sniper in the 12th company Gebirgsjägerregiment 143 serving in theSoviet Union .At the start of 1944, he was transferred to the 2nd Company Jagerregiment 227 where he served in Grubinger Group. He was awarded the
Iron Cross 2nd Class on December 1st, and eight days later was awarded the 1st Class.On
February 28 1945 , he was awarded theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross marking his 200th kill as a sniper, and that spring also saw him awarded theClose Combat Clasp .Over the course of the war, he was wounded three times before being captured and held as a
POW .References
*cite web|title=das-ritterkreuz.de|work=Friedrich Pein|url=http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php4?modul=search_result_det&wert1=4677&searchword=pein| accessdate=16 June| accessyear=2007
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
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