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:

Unteroffizier

Unit:

Kompanietruppführer, 3. Kompanie, Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 "Hermann Göring"

Awarded on:

November 30th, 1944

The following wartime excerpt describes why Grunhold received the Knight’s Cross…

“Following a very heavy artillery barrage, the enemy succeeded in achieving a penetration in the main battle line along the road to Trakehnen. Here the leader of a Grenadier Kompanie fell out, and the unit had no more officers at hand to replace him. Then a man came to the helm! The Kompanie HQ squad leader, Unteroffizier Grunhold, took over command of the Kompanie. He assembled 15 comrades and 3 MGs together, and using these men he launched a flank attack against the enemy infantry that were moving northwards. He broke up the deeply-echeloned assault wedge, rolled up 150-200 men” [at this point the document ends. According to the divisional history, at this stage 300 Soviet soldiers were cut off behind German lines, with these later being liquidated by Grunhold's Kompanie. Grunhold then assumed command of the neighbouring infantry Kompanie as well and moved them into positions to face the next Soviet attack. It was not long in coming, with infantry supported by 7 tanks. Grunhold directed effective MG fire on the infantry and, under this covering fire, approached to within 30 meters of the lead tank and destroyed it with a Panzerfaust. The remaining Soviet forces withdrew.]

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)