Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, Kampfgruppe "Grünwaldt"

Awarded on:

March 5th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 126, 23. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

August 17th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 126, 23. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

September 17th, 1944

Hauptmann Grünwaldt was a Bataillon commander in the 23. Panzer-Division during the summer of 1944. On the 08.08.1944 the Russians attacked his Bataillon and pushed it out of the village of Podleszany. Grünwaldt retook the village in a counterattack but was immediately threatened by a new Russian breakthrough at the boundary between his regiment and the adjoining one. Grünwaldt assembled his weak reserves (even pulling a rifle Kompanie out of the line and thereby leaving the area exposed) and was able to roll back the Russian attack to the old main line of resistance. Grünwaldt would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for successfully holding the line with his own forces.