Harry Polewacz
Encyclopedia
Harry Polewacz was a Obersturmbannführer
in the Waffen SS during World War II
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
during World War II.
Harry Polewacz was born on the 31 March 1909 in Berlin.
He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in command of the 10th Company.
He was awarded the Iron Cross
2nd class in September 1939, during the Polish Campaign and the Iron Cross 1st class in June 1940 during the Battle of France
.
In late 1940 he posted to the new SS Division being formed SS Division (mot.) Wiking and given command of the III. Battalion, 9th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Germania.
Polewacz next participated in Operation Barbarossa
the invasion of the Soviet Union
, where he was awarded the German Cross
in Gold in December 1941.
He was awarded the Knight's Cross in December 1942, when in command of the III. Battalion, SS Regiment Nordland.
Polewacz was killed in action on the 12 January 1943, near Orlowsky, Russia
.
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II.
Harry Polewacz was born on the 31 March 1909 in Berlin.
He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in command of the 10th Company.
He was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd class in September 1939, during the Polish Campaign and the Iron Cross 1st class in June 1940 during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
.
In late 1940 he posted to the new SS Division being formed SS Division (mot.) Wiking and given command of the III. Battalion, 9th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Germania.
Polewacz next participated in Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
the invasion of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, where he was awarded the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold in December 1941.
He was awarded the Knight's Cross in December 1942, when in command of the III. Battalion, SS Regiment Nordland.
Polewacz was killed in action on the 12 January 1943, near Orlowsky, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Commands
- 10th Company, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
- III.Battalion, 9th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Germania, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
- III.Battalion, SS Regiment Nordland, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
- I.Battalion, SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Nordland, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
- 10th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Westland, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking