Hans Sandrock Hans Sandrock , born in April 1913 in Saarbrücken , was an officer of the German Army during World War II , during which he was awarded the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross . The Knight ' s Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II . He survived the war , and died in 1995 at the age of 82 . Early life . The son of an official in the German Air Ministry , Sandrock attended grammar school and subsequently a Gymnasium in Berlin - Steglitz . After leaving school , he trained for one year as an apprentice with a crane and elevator factory in Berlin , followed by four terms of study at the Berlin Institute of Technology as a Mechanical Engineer . During that time he became a member of the German Studentenverbindung Corps Pomerania - Silesia , which today is located in Bayreuth , Bavaria . Military career . On 1 September 1934 , Sandrock enlisted as a volunteer in the army ' s driving instructors command ( ) in Zossen , near Berlin , being promoted to Gefreiter in April 1935 . He was put forward as an Officer Aspirant . After attending the Hanover War School in 1936 , he was posted to Panzer Regiment 5 and commissioned as a Lieutenant . As a platoon commander with the 2nd Company , Panzer Regiment 5 , Sandrock took part in the occupation of Sudetenland . World War II . On 1 September 1939 , Sandrock was promoted to " Oberleutnant " and served with the 1 Company , Panzer Regiment 5 , during the Polish campaign . In this period , Panzer Regiment 5 formed part of the 3rd Panzer Division with Guderian ' s XIX Corps , attacking through Northern Poland . Sandrock received the Iron Cross Second Class on 22 October 1939 . During the Battle of France , Panzer Regiment 5 distinguished itself as part of Hoepner ' s XVI Panzer Corps , attacking through Belgium and participating in the pursuit during the Evacuation of Dunkirk . Sandrock was awarded the Panzer Assault Badge on 6 June 1940 . In late 1940 , Panzer Regiment 5 was removed from the 3rd Panzer Division and became part of the 5th Light Division . On 10 March 1941 , Panzer Regiment 5 was sent to North Africa as part of the Afrika Korps . It fought in the push into Egypt and the efforts to capture Tobruk . In the summer of 1941 , it was reformed within the 21st Panzer Division . In 1942 , Panzer Regiment 5 took part in the capture of Benghazi , fought in the Battle of Gazala , saw action in the Fall of Tobruk and the push to El Alamein . During his service in North Africa , Sandrock was awarded the Iron Cross First Class in April 1941 , the Italian Bravery Medal in February 1942 and the German Cross in Gold on 1 June 1942 . He was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann ( Captain ) on 1 April 1942 . Later that year , the 21st Panzer Division experienced heavy losses in fighting around El Alamein in November . Sandrock was severely wounded and was returned to Germany for hospital treatment and recuperation . On 25 July 1943 , Sandrock , fully recovered , was posted to another elite unit , " Fallschirm - Panzerregiment Hermann Göring " , and served with the III Sturmgeschütz Detachment during the withdrawal through Sicily and the evacuation to the Italian mainland over the Strait of Messina . The Hermann Göring Panzer Regiment fought in all the major battles in Italy . In May 1944 , it was sent to Livorno in the north of Italy and temporarily held in reserve . Sandrock was awarded the Panzer Assault Badge for 25 engagements on December 1943 and the following grade for 50 engagements in June 1944 . Around this time his Division was successful in its participation in the destruction of the Soviet III Tank Corps near Warsaw . On 18 October 1944 , Sandrock was promoted to Major . During the retreat from East Prussia , Sandrock ' s personal score of enemy tanks and armoured vehicles destroyed reached 123 . For this achievement , he was decorated with the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 October 1944 . His decoration and with it the Luftwaffe Honor plate , were presented by General der Artillerie Weidling , commander of XXXXI Panzer Korps . Wounded in action during April 1945 , Sandrock was hospitalised and on his recovery joined the his regiment ' s reserve detachment in Oranienburg . Although the bulk of the " Hermann Göring " units were cut off and captured by Soviet forces , Sandrock made his way west , surrendering to United States forces . On 18 May 1945 , he escaped from captivity and succeeded in reaching his family home near Bonn . Later life . Sandrock died in 1995 at the age of 82 .