Simon Grascher

Simon Grascher
Born 18 December 1920
Klagenfurt, Austria
Died 14 July 1943
Bjelgorod, Russia
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1939–1943
Rank Unterscharführer
Unit 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Eastern Front Medal
Tank Destruction Badge

Simon Grascher was a Unterscharführer, in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Simon Grascher was born in Klagenfurt Austria on the 18 December 1920.[1][2]

He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the Das Reich, he was promoted to Unterscharführer and made a platoon commander in the 9th Company, SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Der Führer.[1]

He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in the Battles around Moscow and in 1943 he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class.[2]

He was awarded the Knight's Cross posthumously in July 1943,[3] when his platoon attacked a strong Russian position near Belgorod. His unit was under heavy fire from Infantry weapons, mortars and anti tank guns which eventually defeated the German assault with the assistance of two T-34 Tanks.

Grascher despite the heavy fire destroyed the two tanks the first with an anti tank charge and the second with a hand grenade He then took over command of the company and led another attack which achieved all there targets, but lead to the death of Graascher.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c "frontkpemper". http://www.frontkjemper.info/show_person.php?P_ID=654. 
  2. ^ a b c "orion47". Archived from the original on 2009-10-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20091029030613/http://geocities.com/~orion47/AWARDRECIPIENTS/RKdEK_G.html. 
  3. ^ "lexionderwehrmacht". http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Orden/Ritterkreuz/RKG-R.htm. 
  • Mattson, Gregory SS-The realm. The History of the Second SS division, 1939-45. Staplehurst 2002, ISBN 1862271445
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Mitcham, Jr.Samuel, Retreat to the Reich, Stackpole books 2007. ISBN 081173384X
  • Henschler Henri & Fay Will, Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books, 2003

ISBN 0811729052