Werner Grunhold

Werner Grunhold (24 February 1925 – 9 May 1945) was a German infantryman and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Unteroffizier Grunhold was the leader of a company HQ squad during his division's battles in East Prussia in 1944. In the course of a Soviet assault his company commander became a casualty and, in the absence of any officers to replace him, Grunhold assumed command of the unit. He scraped together 15 men including 3 MG 42s and counterattacked against the Russian infantry who had broken into the main line of resistance. This violent counterattack broke up the attackers and led to 300 of them being cut off behind German lines, who were later liquidated by Grunhold's company. Grunhold then assumed command of the neighbouring infantry company as well and moved them into positions to face the next Russian attack. It was not long in coming, with infantry supported by seven tanks. Grunhold directed effective MG fire on the infantry and, under this covering fire, approached to 30 meters of the lead tank and destroyed it with a Panzerfaust. The remaining Soviet forces withdrew. For his skillful leadership and bravery on this day he was later awarded the Knight's Cross.

Grunhold, along with the vast majority of his division, was led into Russian captivity at the end of the war. He was shot by his captors in a POW camp near Strausberg, just outside of Berlin.

Awards & decorations

 * Iron Cross
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 November 1944 as Führer 3./Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 "Hermann Göring"