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Groß, Martin (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
April 15th, 1911 (Frankfurt am Main/Hessen, Germany)
Date of death:
March 1st, 1984 (Bad Laer/Osnabrück, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 6.684 // NSDAP-Nr.: 454.840
Nationality:
German

Biography

Promotions:
01.02.1931: SS-Anwärter
00.00.1931: SS-Mann
10.03.1935: SS-Untersturmführer
09.11.1936: SS-Obersturmführer
30.01.1940: SS-Hauptsturmführer
30.01.1943: SS-Sturmbannführer
09.11.1944: SS-Obersturmbannführer

Career:
00.00.1931: entered the SS
00.03.1934-00.03.1935: SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
10.05.1935: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, 1. Sturm, I. Sturmbann, Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler"
00.09.1939: campaing in Poland
00.10.1939: SS-Ostuf, Führer, 1. Sturm, I. Sturmbann, LSSAH
27.05.1940: WIA
20.11.1941: SS-Hstuf, Chef, 5. (schwer.) Kompanie, LSSAH, severely WIA and sent to a Lazarett
00.12.1941: SS-Hstuf, Stabsoffizier, Inspektion 6, Kraftfahrttruppen, SS-FHA - Kdr, SS-Panzer-Ersatz-Abteilung in Weimar-Buchenwald
01.06.1942-04.07.1942: SS-Hstuf, Kommandeurslehrgang, Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf
00.07.1942: SS-Hstuf, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 'Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler'
30.01.1943: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, II. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzer-Division 'Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler'
03.07.1943: proposed for the RK by Georg Schönberger approved by Theodor Wisch the 13.07.1943 - Operation Zitadelle
00.02.1944: Kdr, SS-Panzer-Ausbildungs-und-Ersatz-Regiment, Dondangen, Latvia
01.07.1944: Führer, Kampfgruppe 'Groß', SS-Panzer-Brigade 'Gross', SS-Panzer-Brigade 'Seelager' - Seelager, Riga, Kurland
00.08.1944: Führer, Kampfgruppe 'Gross', Kampfgruppe 'Strachwitz', 18. Armee - Mitau, Tallinn
00.09.1944: Führer, Kampfgruppe 'Gross', Kampfgruppe 'von Lauchert', 3. Panzer-Armee - East Prussia
00.11.1944: refit with troops from Truppenübungsplatz Sennelager and Truppenübungsplatz Windau and 6. Panzer-Armee and SS-Panzer-Brigade 'Westfalen'
00.12.1944: Kdr, SS-Panzer-Regiment 26 "Reichsmarschall", 26. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division
00.02.1945: Operation Südwind - Gran, Hungary
00.03.1945: Kdr, SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 12. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hitlerjugend', I. SS-Panzer-Korps, 6. SS-Panzer-Armee - Hungary
00.04.1945: fightings near Wien, Austria

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Awarded on:
February 1934
Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer
Awarded on:
December 1st, 1935
Julleuchter der SS
Awarded on:
1935
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
SS-Ehrenring
Silberes SA-Sportabzeichen
Awarded on:
April 1st, 1939
Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP 10 Jahre
Awarded on:
1939
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4.Stufe (4 Jahre)
Awarded on:
1939
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 3.Stufe (8 Jahre)
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:
Führer, 5. Kompanie, LSSAH
Awarded on:
May 1940
WIA 27.05.1940 + 20.11.1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 20th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
October 1940
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
1941
Voenen Orden
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Awarded on:
July 16th, 1942
Nr. 2.020
Ordinul Coroana Romaniei Ofiter
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
in silver
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:
Führer, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
March 28th, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:
Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler”, Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
July 22nd, 1943
Groß’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 12.07.1943 the II./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 was attached to the 2. Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment LSSAH, and was on standby just behind the forward infantry positions in the area around Hill 252.2 and the railway line about 2.5 km southeast of Prokhorovka.

At around 08:15 on that day about 150 enemy tanks (mostly T-34s) suddenly broke through the friendly infantry security. They stormed into the Panzer assembly area along a narrow front with great speed and all weapons firing. SS-Sturmbannführer Groß was swift to organize friendly resistance, and did so with such skill that the enemy tanks were surrounded on three sides. He himself fought in the middle of his troops, firing in every direction. Through his courageous example he inspired his entire Abteilung to fight, and in a tank battle that lasted about three hours it destroyed about 90 enemy tanks. The remainder were mostly knocked out in close combat or by friendly artillery. Friendly Panzer losses were minimal.

This exceptional deed justifies the high award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross for SS-Sturmbannführer Martin Groß. He is worthy to be decorated as such.”

Submitted on July 18th 1943.
Preliminary document and decoration on July 26th 1943 to Heeresgruppe Süd.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1945
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold

Sources

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