MAJOR PETER FRANTZ. The subject here is the German Sturmgeschutz and one of its men. The Sturmgeschutz was the Wehrmacht's tank busters. By cautious estimates they destroyed far in excess of 30,000 enemy tanks! They achieved more tank kills per gun than the tank arm. The Sturmgeschutz was a typical German weapon in layout, design and operational planning. This type of armored weapon was not to be found in the inventories of the British or the Americans. On the Eastern Front, the German Sturmgeschutz were so successful against the Russian tanks, that a standard order was hammered into the Russian tank crews that they should avoid duels with German Assault guns whenever possible. Afterwards, it was the Russians which were starting to deploy some assault guns in their inventory in the SU series after stealing the idea from the Germans. Not only were the Sturmgeschutz capable of matching the tanks--- their larger, technically much more complicated, more expensive and heavier contemporaries---in shooting precision; they were also their equals in speed, penetrative ability and offensive spirit. One shinning example in the German Sturmgeschutz assault gun was Major Peter Frantz, Commander of the 1st Battery Sturmgeschutz Abteilung "Grossdeutschland". On the Russian front, since the start of the invasion, he and his StuG had fought the Russians in battles like few recorded in the history of the Sturmgeschutz. He overran Soviet batteries, stormed across rivers, blasted anti-tank barricades, wiped-out enemy supply columns and blocked avenues of retreat. During an attack in Woronesh, Russia, in Operation Blau, the summer offensive of 1942, Peter Frantz with his StuG destroyed 14 enemy tanks by himself in one single engagement. On 13 June 1942, Peter Frantz received the Knight's Cross for his dauntless actions on the Russian front. On March 14 1943, in Stanowoje, Russia, he once found himself in a seemingly hopeless situation. Major Peter Frantz was faced with being overrun and eventual death or captivity. He wanted neither. So he stood his ground against 60 attacking Soviet tanks, virtually down to his last round of ammunition, he made every round count, he called in artillery fire directly on his position, when all seemed lost, he saw the attacking force slow to a halt and pulled back, the line had held. Thanks to his courage under fire and his gunner's accuracy, the battlefield remained in German hands. And all the destroyed and inoperable enemy tanks could be counted. There were forty-three T-34's left lying on the field, their remains bearing witness to the fierceness of this fight. For this unique defense operation by his battalion, for his masterly tactical leadership and for his personal bravery, which at this place had been decisive and prevented a disaster. Major Peter Frantz became the 228th soldier of the Wehrmacht to receive the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 April 1943. The award was rendered personally by Adolf Hitler in a ceremony conducted in the Reich Chancellery. Upon his return to his Battalion, he was the object of a famous day-long celebration highlighted by a parade and review in his honor by his Battalion. On January 17 1944, Major Peter Frantz was transferred to the Kriegsakademie for General Staff training. Peter Frantz always led his Battalion according to his motto: That only ruthless, offensive-minded tactics, with a large element of calculated risk-taking based on the strengths of the vehicles and the skills of their crews could guarantee the Sturmgeschutz superiority on the battlefields against massive Soviet tank forces.
