The Purple Crutches
The coveted Purple Crutch?
Excerpt from the Deustsche wochenschau July 8th 1943
" In the East our forces are still battling strong concentrations of Bolschevik armour and infantry near Orel. According to Wehrmachtsbericht 1355 , General Paul Hausser today awarded the Purple Crutches to Hauptstuermfuehrer LC Summers for his heroic action against an enemy tank in the Pinsk-Panteryii sector. During an offensive action Hauptstuermfuehrer´s Tiger, disabled, was heading back to the safety of our lines when suddenly a T34 was sighted at 700 metres.Out of ammunition our Tiger was helpless when in a moment of inspiration Hauptstuermfuehrer Summers ordered his gunner, gefreiter Frinik, to load the 88mm gun with one of his crutches. The shot hit the Bolchevik tank right where the driver hatch was open striking the enemy driver on the forehead.Stunned, the driver lost control of the T34 which then crashed into a ditch.Then Hauptstuermfuehrer Summers hopped out of his Tiger and with his remaining crutch proceeded to beat senseless the Bolchevik crew which was captured along with the tank. Upon hearing this magnificent deed of heroism our Fuehrer commented that " Hauptstuermfuehrer Summers is a fine example of our National Socialist youth superiority and it´s only a matter of time before the Asiatic-Bolschevik hordes are pushed back beyond the Urals.". In other news....
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Cheers
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