Ernst Grunau

Ernst Grunau
Born	(1919-09-28)28 September 1919 Rüstringen, Germany
Died	8 July 1989(1989-07-08) (aged 69) Travemünde, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Heer
Years of service	?–1945
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	14. Panzer-Division
Battles / wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Cherkassy Pocket Jassy–Kishinev Offensive (August 1944) Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Ernst Grunau (28 September 1919 – 8 July 1989) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was also awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold one of only 631 awards.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (8 October 1941)
  • 1st Class (17 January 1942)
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Panzer Badge
• 2 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (26 August 1943)
  • in Silver (20 December 1943)
  • in Gold (26 August 1944)
• German Cross in Gold (24 March 1945)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 October 1944 as Oberleutnant and leader of the Begleitkompanie of the 14. Panzer-Division

References

Bibliography

• Berger, Florian (2004). Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-3-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com