Horst Gresiak
Encyclopedia
Horst Gresiak was a Obersturmführer
(First Lieutenant), 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.
Horst Gresiak was born on the 17 February 1920 at Leverkusen
. He volunteered to join the Waffen SS in September 1940, and was posted to the SS Totenkopf Standarte as a Grenadier.
He was selected to become an officer in November 1941 and was sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Braunschweig
, after graduation in April 1942, he was posted to the Das Reich.
He served in the Panzer Battalion as a tank commander and later a Platoon commander in the 3rd Company.
In 1944 He was given command of the 7th Company in Normandy
, he was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions during combat at Baraque de Fraiture during the Ardennes offensive
.
Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
(First Lieutenant), in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Horst Gresiak was born on the 17 February 1920 at Leverkusen
Leverkusen
Leverkusen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on the eastern bank of the Rhine. To the South, Leverkusen borders the city of Cologne and to the North is the state capital Düsseldorf....
. He volunteered to join the Waffen SS in September 1940, and was posted to the SS Totenkopf Standarte as a Grenadier.
He was selected to become an officer in November 1941 and was sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
, after graduation in April 1942, he was posted to the Das Reich.
He served in the Panzer Battalion as a tank commander and later a Platoon commander in the 3rd Company.
In 1944 He was given command of the 7th Company in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, he was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions during combat at Baraque de Fraiture during the Ardennes offensive
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
.