Date of birth:

September 28th, 1919 (Rüstringen/Lower Saxony, Germany)

Date of death:

July 8th, 1989 (Travemünde/Schleeswijk-Holstein, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)

Awarded on:

October 8th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier (Junior Officer)

Awarded on:

January 17th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer Begleit-Kompanie / 14.Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

October 4th, 1944

In the days leading up to the 20.09.1944, near Berzmente (on the Danube river), Oberleutnant Grunau would distinguish himself through his decisiveness and bravery while commanding a small Kampfgruppe. Made up of almost exclusively staff personnel, and supported by just two light Flak guns, this vastly outnumbered unit was able to stand firm against battalion sized enemy forces (that included both tanks and infantry) for almost an entire week through a combination of deception and tough resistance. Gruppe Grunau was ultimately able to prevent an enemy breakthrough in his area. Grunau would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for this outstanding success.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kompaniechef Divisions-Begleit-Kompanie 14. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

February 9th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kompaniechef Divisions-Begleit-Kompanie / 14.Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

March 24th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

14. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 1st, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

14. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

February 5th, 1945

Awarded for his fifth wound inflicted on the 25th of January 1945.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

14. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 20th, 1944

Awarded for his first wound inflicted on the 10th of February 1944.

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher
• Photo: Willi Schumacher collection
  
• - WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 2009.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Dörr M., Die träger der Nahkampfspange in Gold, Heer- Luftwaffe- Waffen-SS 1943-1945, Biblio Verlag Bisendorf, 2006.
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
  - Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945