Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)

Awarded on:

October 19th, 1939

Rank:

Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)

Awarded on:

December 11th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Wachtmeister

Awarded on:

February 5th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Awarded on:

June 3rd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

5. Kompanie, Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 114

Awarded on:

March 16th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer, 2. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 114, 6. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

August 14th, 1944

The following press article describes the Knight’s Cross action of Max Grieser (which took place on the 17.-18.07.1944)…

“Brave Lautzkirchener:

A son of our village, Leutnant Max Grieser, has been awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross for his brave actions in the East.

The Bolsheviks, with their great superiority, had created a bridgehead over the Neman river. In response a Bataillon of Westphalian Panzergrenadiers was ordered to compress the bridgehead via an attack of its own. During an advance against a commanding hill the Bataillon found itself pinned down under heavy blocking fire. At dawn on the next day Leutnant Grieser made the decision to capture the commanding hill in a surprise attack without waiting for a promised Panzer Kompanie to arrive. Leading at the head of his men, he got onto the hill despite the enemy attempts to stop him with their defensive fire and he thereafter cleared the hill and the forest on top of it in fierce close combat, during which he personally fought amongst his troops. He held the hill and in the process captured 7 Pak, 10 heavy machine guns and numerous other weapons. 150 prisoners were taken and 100 enemy dead counted. The Soviets tried to recapture the decisive height with massive forces of their own, however all their attempts were fended off by Leutnant Grieser and his brave soldiers, who repulsed 6 enemy attacks up until midday. For his exemplary leadership the Führer has awarded this brave officer with the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

Leutnant Max Grieser was born on the 18.08.1914 in Lautzkirchen as the son of a businessman. He is an active officer. His family also lives in Lautzkirchen.”

Recived by his widow Else Grieser on September 8th 1944.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)