Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 21st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 6th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant

Unit:

2./Panzer-Abteilung 2101

Awarded on:

September 20th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer 2./Panzer-Abteilung 5 / 25.Panzer-Grenadier-Division / 9.Armee / Heeresgruppe Weichsel

Awarded on:

April 17th, 1945

Giese’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Leutnant Giese has been a Kompanie commander in the Panzer-Abteilung 5 for only a few weeks.

On the 22.03.1945, during a counterattack on the Golzow train station, Giese knocked out 3 tanks in the evening.

At 06:30 on the next day Leutnant Giese observed a hostile armoured formation that intended to break through 800 metres south of the Golzow train station. He instinctively found the correct firing position and fired with calm and confidence, although his firing position was soon spotted and heavy artillery fire forced him to change position several times. In the time from 06:30 to 10:00 he destroyed 15 enemy tanks with minimal expenditure of ammunition. By the evening Leutnant Giese could report 19 confirmed armour kills. Through this deed Leutnant Giese prevented the sought-after Soviet breakthrough towards Seelow. On the 24.03.1945 Leutnant Giese once again demonstrated unwavering calm and devotion to duty. With only two AFVs he supported the night attack against Gorgast. During the ordered withdrawal of the Kampfgruppe from Gorgast he remained in contact with the enemy as the rearguard Panzer even though he had been badly wounded, and thereby enabled the withdrawal to take place. Here Leutnant Giese destroyed a total of: 2 assault guns (SU 76), 4 IS-2s and 13 T-43s.”

On the 10.04.1945 the 9. Armee submitted a supplement to the Vorschlag via telephone. It reported that, according to information from the commander of the Panzer-Abteilung, Leutnant Giese had been wounded. It also stated that by this time he had achieved at least 58 tank kills.

Submitted on April 7th 1945.