Harry Polewacz

Harry Polewacz
Born	31 March 1909 Berlin, Germany
Died	12 January 1943 (aged 33) Orlovsky, Russia
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Obersturmbannführer
Unit	Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze Wound Badge in Silver Eastern Front Medal 1941/42

Harry Polewacz (31 March 1909 – 12 January 1943) was an 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, the 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 Orlovsky, Russia.

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

References

Further reading

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Hamilton Charles Leaders and Personalities of the Third Reich, R James Bender Pub 1997, ISBN 0-912138-27-0
• Kurowski Franz Panzer Aces II Stackpole Books, 2004, ISBN 0-8117-3175-8
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
• Fey, Will; Henschler, Henri (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.