Alfred Großrock

Alfred Großrock was an Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant), in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. That award recognizes extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Alfred Grossrock was born on 2 January 1918 in Ludwigsburg.

He volunteered to join the SS in November 1936 (SS number 285.640) and later joined the NSDAP in May 1937. In October 1938 he participated in the occupation of the Sudetenland. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in June 1940 during the Battle of France and the 1st class award during Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union when with the 2nd SS Division Das Reich. His award of the German Cross in Gold came in June 1943 when serving with the 2nd SS Sturmgeschütz Battalion, Das Reich.

Grossrock was selected to become an officer and promoted to Untersturmführer in November 1943, he was then posted to the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking as a platoon commander in the 6th Company, 5th SS Panzer Regiment.

Grossrock was awarded the Knight's Cross in August 1944, for his actions during the Battle of Kowel in the Ukraine, when he destroyed 26 T-34 tanks. His tank crew all received the Iron Cross 1st or 2nd class.

He was promoted to Obersturmführer in January 1945, but he did not survive the war; it's believed he died in Soviet captivity on 5 April 1945.