Benedikt Unfried
Benedikt Unfried | |
Benedikt Unfried as a Rottenführer in mid-1913 | |
Born | 23 September 1890
Rotting, Rotgeheim |
Allegiance | Rotgeheim |
Service/branch | Waffen-Verteidigungsstaffel |
Years of Service | 1912 – present |
Rank | Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) |
Unit | 59th VS-Panzergrenadier Division Lychen |
Battles/wars | Northern Territory War |
Relations | Heinrich (father) Dorothea (mother) |
Benedikt Unfried (born 23 September 1890) is a Rotgeheiman soldier in the Verteidigungsstaffel. He is best known for his actions during the Northern Territory War with Sebastian Scheffler, for which he and Scheffler were heavily decorated.
Early life and career
Benedikt Unfried was born on 23 September 1890 in Rotting, Rotgeheim. His father, Heinrich, worked as an engineer and was able to easily provide for the family. After he finished secondary schooling, Benedikt's father financed his higher education in engineering. He was less than one semester away from graduation when a terrorist attack took place on Rotgeheiman soil, prompting Unfried to leave his studies and join the military. He enlisted in the Verteidigungsstaffel on 12 March 1916.
After basic training, Benedikt was assigned to the 3rd VS-Panzer Division Totenkopf. Unfried served with Totenkopf from 1912 to mid-1913, serving countryside throughout the 10 Days War. Disheartened with the fact that his division did not deploy and see combat, he requested a transfer in mid-1913. Unfried was transferred to the 50th VS-Füsilier Division Kurland, a division stationed on the island province Finnmarck and far north of the Rotgeheiman mainland. While with Kurland, Unfried initially served in an engineer battalion as a section leader in a bridge-laying company, before being reassigned to a flamethrower section. In early August 1914, shortly before the Northern Territory War, Unfried was reassigned to the 2nd Battalion, 132nd Infantry Regiment.
Summary of career
Awards
- Iron Cross
- Grade 1 (12 October 1914)
- Grade 2 (20 December 1914)
- Distinguished Service Cross Medal
- Grade 1 (28 May 1915) as Unterscharführer (Corporal) in in 2nd Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment, 50th VS-Füsilier Division Kurland
- Distinguished Army Service Medal
- Grade 1 (28 May 1915)
- Wound Badge
- Grade 1 (18 November 1914)
- Northern Territory War Medal (19 September 1914)
- Finnmarck Campaign Medal (20 July 1915)
- Scheinfeld War Medal (20 May 1916)
- Panzer Service Ribbon (14 June 1912)
- Füsilier Service Ribbon (21 January 1915)
- Panzergrenadier Service Ribbon (30 June 1916)
- 3rd VS-Panzer Division Totenkopf Service Badge (14 June 1912)
- 50th VS-Füsilier Division Kurland Service Badge (21 January 1913)
- 59th VS-Panzergrenadier Division Lychen Service Badge (30 June 1916)
Promotions
3rd VS-Panzer Division Totenkopf | |
---|---|
16 March 1912 | Schütze (Private) |
29 April 1912 | Oberschütze (Private First Class) |
7 July 1913 | Rottenführer (Lance Corporal) |
50th VS-Füsilier Division Kurland | |
29 September 1914 | Unterscharführer (Corporal) |
59th VS-Panzergrenadier Division Lychen | |
12 March 1916 | Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) |