Caspar Antoine Sporck

Casper "Antoine" Sporck was a Unterscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. Who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II. He was the third Dutchman to be awarded the Knight's Cross.

Casper Antoine Sporck was born on the 10 August 1922, in Heerlen , Holland.

Sporck volunteered to join the Waffen SS in April 1941. He was a commander of a Sdkfz 251/9 - Schützenpanzerwagen (7.5cm KwK37). Equipped with a 75 mm L/24 low velocity gun, nicknamed "Stummel" in the 5th (Heavy) Company, 11th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland. He took part in Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union and was awarded the Eastern Front Medal for service on the Eastern Front during the first Russian winter of the war. He was wounded for the first time in April 1942 near Novogorod and evacuated to hospital where he remained until July after he was released from hospital he was sent to Bussem in Holland to recuperate until October 1942.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions in January 1944, near the town of Gubanizy. A Russian tank force had broken the German line and entered the town. Sporock drove his Stummel into their midst and began to engage them, eventually making 11 kills. Later during the last hours of the German retreat to the Narva Bridgehead on 31 January 1944, Sporck stayed back alone with his Stummel and patrolled to the east of the main battle lines, seeking out enemy vehicles and providing protection for stragglers. At dusk, with the enemy close behind, Sporck's vehicle was the last to cross into the German lines. For his bravery he was recommended for the Knight's Cross by his battalion commander Rudolf Saalbach. Casper Sporck did not survive the war and died from his wounds, that he received at the Stettin Bridgehead. He died in a field hospital in Bayreuth on 8 April 1945.

Bron: Wikipedia. Casper Sporck. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casper_Sporck (geraadpleegd op 21 februari 2011)