Brenner

Oberleutnant Harro Brenner, Fhr. e. I Inf. Kp./Kampfstaffel DAK (Leader of the 1st Infantry Company of the Combat Echelon AFRIKA) to Inf.Kp. de Kasta (Afrika)

(November 24, 1911-?)

Oberleutnant HARRO BRENNER

Born on November 24, 1911 in Swakopmund, Southwest Africa.
Ultimate rank: Oberleutnant
Last service position: Fhr. e. I Inf. Kp./Kampfstaffel DAK (Leader of the 1st Infantry Company of the Combat Echelon AFRIKA) to Inf.Kp. de Kasta (Afrika) or Leader of the infantry company of the Combat Echelon "Afrika."
Knight's Cross: Awarded on April 16, 1943

Harro Brenner was one of the 450 young Germans from Southwest Africa who volunteered for service in the German armed forces following the outbreak of war. After intensive training, in 1941 Brenner joined Rommel's combat echelon. Commanded by Hauptmann Medicus, this formation accompanied him everywhere he went at the front. In this way Brenner experienced firsthand the daring advances led by his Commander-in-Chief. In January 1942 he stormed through Cyrenaica, and took part in the stealthy foray through the desert around Bir Hacheim to the northeast on May 26. He was with Rommel on the morning of June 21, 1942 after Tobruk fell and accompanied him as the Africa Corps drove to Marsa Matruk and EI Alamein. Brenner was awarded both Iron Crosses for recovering Rommel's radio station and map center after they had been captured by enemy troops.
Brenner accomplished his greatest feats in Tunisia, however. By then an Oberleutnant, Brenner and his company, together with a platoon of anti-tank guns and a pioneer platoon, held the Maknassy Pass. Major Medicus then ordered him to eliminate the enemy incursions. Brenner led the counterattacks himself. The enemy -two regiments strong -was effectively beaten back there for eight days, allowing the German AFRIKAKORPS to regroup.
Medicus recommended Brenner for the Knight's Cross and Generaloberst von Amim himself endorsed the recommendation. A telex sent by the Africa Corps stated: "Major Medicus and Leutnant Brenner were the heart and soul of the resistance in these unusually difficult defensive battles. It is thanks to their courageous actions that the breakthrough was prevented."

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Bibliography

Knights Cross Holders of the AFRIKAKORPS by Franz Kurowski, Schiffer

François de Lannoy also has a list of the NA Knights Cross winners in his book AFRIKAKORPS from Heimdal

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