Horst Gresiak

Horst Gresiak was an Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant), in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Horst Gresiak was born on the 17 February 1920 at Leverkusen. He volunteered to join the Waffen SS in September 1940, and was posted to the SS Totenkopf Standarte as a Grenadier.

He was selected to become an officer in November 1941 and was sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Braunschweig, after graduation in April 1942, he was posted to the Das Reich.

He served in the Panzer Battalion as a tank commander and later a Platoon commander in the 3rd Company. In 1944 He was given command of the 7th Company in Normandy, he was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions during combat at Baraque de Fraiture during the Ardennes offensive.