AllegianceNazi Germany NameErnst Grunau Service/branchGerman Army Unit14th Panzer Division
Years of service?–1945 RoleMilitary Officer RankHauptmann
Born28 September 1919
Rustringen, Germany (1919-09-28) Battles/warsWorld War II
Invasion of Poland
Battle of France
Operation Barbarossa
Cherkassy Pocket
Jassy–Kishinev Offensive (August 1944)
Courland Pocket DiedJuly 8, 1989, Travemunde, Germany AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and warsInvasion of Poland, Battle of France
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
