HOW 2 KSK COMMANDOS EARNED GERMANY’S HIGHEST DECORATION

In 2013, a heavy firefight in Afghanistan left an Afghan soldier wounded and lying in the line of fire. Despite the enemy fire, a KSK commando who had been accompanying the local security forces broke from cover and pulled the Afghan out. Moments later he was badly wounded himself.

On the mission of February 21, 2013, Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) were operating in the Kunduz area, supported by soldiers of the Kommando Spezialkräfte, who were there to advise the Afghan command. Together they moved on a building complex where several armed insurgents had dug in.

As they went in, the enemy opened aimed fire without warning, killing one member of the Afghan partner unit and wounding another. Through the enemy fire and the chaos on the ground, HptFw Jürgen E. worked his way forward to the critically wounded man, dragged him out of the direct line of fire into nearby cover and gave him first aid there. He then tried to get his Afghan comrade out of the danger zone so that further medical treatment could begin. In doing so, the sergeant first class came under heavy fire himself, was hit at least once and went down badly wounded.

HptFw Benjamin B., also a KSK commando, saw his comrade go down and reacted fast and professionally. At the risk of his own life, he pulled Jürgen E. out of the hail of bullets and into cover. Working together, the men stabilized the wounded soldier and got him evacuated. The remaining soldiers then carried the operation through to a successful end.

HptFw Jürgen E. survived his wounds, and a year later both commandos were awarded the Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr for Bravery (Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr für Tapferkeit) for their brave and determined action.

A brotherhood nobody else understands.