Awarded on:

February 1934

Awarded on:

December 1935

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)

Unit:

Zugführer, 11. Kompanie, SS-Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler

Awarded on:

November 1st, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)

Unit:

Zugführer, 9.(MG) Kompanie, II. Bataillon, LSSAH

Awarded on:

June 14th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1941

In bronze

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

September 3rd, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 18.(Panzer-Jäger) Kompanie, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler", 1. SS-Panzer-Divison "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

September 20th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 18.(Panzer-Jäger) Kompanie, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler", 1. SS-Panzer-Divison "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

May 14th, 1944

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

“At 08:30 on the 06.03.1944 strong Russian infantry forces with tank support penetrated into the village of Manatschin (located along the Durchgangsstraße IV between Tarnopol and Proskurov) from the north. In this village was the SS-Wirschafts-Bataillon 1 of the Division as well as supply troops of the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 1 under the command of SS-Hauptsturmführer Grätz.

While the Russian tanks were still milling around in the northern part of the village, taking advantage of the confusion they had created and firing at targets of opportunity, SS-Hauptsturmführer Grätz decided to assemble all available combat-capable units in the village. He formed a combat unit from the members of the bakery Kompanie as well as two Kompanien from the Baupionieren in the village and the members of the supply troops of the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 1, respectively.

With these hastily assembled forces, only equipped with a few machine guns, he created a defensive position in the southern part of Manatschin and held it from the time of the penetration until when he was ordered to withdraw to the area south of Durchgangsstraße IV on the 11.03.1944. By doing this he enabled the flow of supplies to Proskurov to continue and also kept the left flank of the Division’s combat elements in Woitowzy and the area to the north of it free of the enemy. This meant that despite the Russians’ use of strong infantry forces and a tank brigade they were unable to cut off the Division from the supply road or encircle it from the west.

SS-Hauptsturmführer Grätz also showed outstanding personal bravery with the collection of available forces that he had formed into a Kampfgruppe. The counterthrusts he launched on the morning and evening on the 06.03.1944 as well as on the morning of the next day succeeded in either destroying or sealing off enemy penetrations in his combat sector. Due to his decision to hold the line here, and of course the firm steadfastness of his fighting troops that were inspired by his personal bravery, he had a decisive share in the defensive success of the Division.

Due to his independent initiative, personal bravery, outstanding leadership and the extraordinary defensive success described in this document, I hold SS-Hauptsturmführer Grätz as being worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross. I ask that he be recognized with this high honour.”