HAUPTMANN BODO SPRANZ. One of the most celebrated and highly decorated soldiers of the assault gun was Hauptmann Bodo Spranz, Commander of the 1st Batterie, 237th Assault Gun Brigade. Bodo Spranz was awarded the Knight's Cross on 25 September 1942, for his actions on the Russian front when a Soviet Shock Division in a deep thrust to the rear was halted and beaten back, the armored core of their attack force was stop essentially by a single man: Hauptmann Bodo Spranz, in an action that embodied all the highest soldierly ideals. He achieved the singular success of destroying 14 of the 15 Soviet tanks during the break-in with his Assault gun. He distinguished himself repeatedly and established himself a reputation as one of the Assault gun brigade's premier tank busters (Panzerknackers) The heroic single-handed act of courage for the single-handed destruction of an enemy tank. On one occasion knocking out two Soviet tanks in a single day. Hauptmann Spranz led his brigade through the murderous fighting in 1943, destroying two more Soviet tanks and bringing his tally to four enemy tanks destroyed in the single-handed destruction in the man against tank engagement, for which he was decorated with the Panzervernichtungsabzeichen, an award for the single-handed destruction of an enemy tank, worn on the right sleeve upper right shoulder, one next to the other. An incredible and rare achievement for a StuG Commander's personal daring, to be further attested by the fact that he was four times decorated with the badge, and was awarded the Oak leaves on 3 October 1943, as the 308th recipient of this prestigious award. Hauptmann Bodo Spranz was among several successful Panzerknackers (tank busters) summoned to Berlin to report as an instructor in the newly designed Panzernahbekampfungslehrgang (Close-quarter tank destruction course) in order to provide the soldiers with the skill to give them a fighting chance against the waves of Soviet tanks then being thrown at them. Serving throughout the various campaigns on the Russian front in 1944, Hauptmann Bodo Spranz continued to build his reputation as a daredevil tank killer in the Sturmgeschutz, As with many highly decorated soldiers, Bodo Spranz was then offered a staff posting as an instructor at a Training School where his expertise could be put to good use in teaching others.
