HAUPTMANN JOHANN SPIELMANN. Johann Spielmann was one of the finest soldiers of the Sturmartillerie. He started his career in Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 197 commanding a Sturmgeschutz III short gun 75mm L/24, and later a long gun version Sturmgeschutz III 75mm L/48, to the mighty Ferdinand/Elefant in Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 653. Great personal gallantry together with leadership qualities of the highest order brought Johann Spielmann acts of supreme heroism and proved himself second to none. The number of Knight's Crosses awarded rose dramatically once Operation Barbarrosa had commenced. The incidence of acts of heroism was bond to increase. The German soldier would be called upon to make ever greater efforts and ever greater sacrifices. The German soldier, always capable of showing amazing fortitude, was clearly shown by Johann Spielmann's personal gallantry. By his determination, personal fearlessness and undoubted gallantry in the face of the enemy, he prevented an enemy breakthrough of a massed soviet tank attack. Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 197 played a large part in the successful defense, above all, it was due to the section leader, Hauptmann Spielmann, who attacked again and again with his few Sturmgeschutz, always himself at their head, in which it destroyed 37 enemy tanks, 14 were destroyed by Spielmann. After the end of this bitter battle, which was a glorious page in the history of Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 197, the battalion was mentioned in the Wehrmacht Report: "On 4 April 1942, Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 197 has destroyed 200 enemy tanks since the beginning of the eastern campaign, Hauptmann Spielmann was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 April 1942". The German soldier, unlike his allied counterpart, wore virtually all his military decorations at all times, even in the thick of combat. Which made him stand out among all the combatants of the Second World War. On 1st April 1943, the entire battalion was renamed Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 653, and equipped with the new Ferdinand tank destroyer, a massively armored and up-gunned fighting vehicle which was seen as the hammer and anvil with which German armored strength could be forged anew. The Sturmgeschutz crews would now have the decisive edge in morale that is inseparable from possession of a superior weapon. Generaloberst Heinz Guderian as inspector of armored troops observed the battalion at live-fire exercises, at the end he had special words of praise for the 1st Batterie of Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 653 under command of Hauptmann Spielmann, which had demonstrated outstanding accuracy. Which the unit was ready to make up the leading steel spearhead for "Operation Citadel" on 5 July 1943. The long-barreled tank cannon in 8.8 cm caliber performed magnificently. The Ferdinands of Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 653 had destroyed 320 Russian tanks and a large number of guns, anti-tank guns and trucks in this operation. Hauptmann Johann Spielmann was later awarded the Oak leaves to his Knight's Cross while serving in this same unit commanding an Elefant tank destroyer for his additional acts of gallantry, outstanding performance, and meritorious conduct in combat.
