Simon Grascher

Simon Grascher
Born	18 December 1920 Klagenfurt, Austria
Died	14 July 1943 (aged 22) Belgorod, Soviet Union
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1939–43
Rank	Unterscharführer
Unit	2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Eastern Front Medal Tank Destruction Badge

Simon Grascher (18 December 1920 – 14 July 1943) was a Unterscharführer, 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.

Biography

Grascher was born in Klagenfurt (Austria) on the 18 December 1920 in Austrian-Carinthian Slovene family.

He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the Das Reich, he was promoted to Unterscharführer and made a platoon commander in the 9th Company, SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Der Führer.

Grascher was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class for actions in the battles around Moscow and in 1943 he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class.

Grascher was killed in action near Belgorod. He was awarded the Knight's Cross posthumously in July 1943.

References

• 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.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.