Bernhard Krause Bernhard Krause was an Obersturmbannführer ( Lieutenant Colonel ) in the Waffen - SS during World War II . He 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 . Early life . Bernhard Krause was born on the 11 May 1910 , in Weimar , Germany . After completing his schooling he volunteered to join the SS - VT in January 1934 , and posted to the SS Standarte " Deutschland " . In 1935 he was selected to become an officer and sent to the SS - Junkerschule at Bad Tölz . Upon graduation he was promoted to Untersturmführer ( Second Lieutenant ) in April and further promoted to Obersturmführer ( First Lieutenant ) in April 1936 . He was given command of the 5th Company , Leibstandarte SS " Adolf Hitler " and promoted to Hauptsturmführer ( Captain ) in January 1939 . http : / / img . photobucket . com / albums / v289 / Munin1234 / witt _ mit _ hund . jpg World War II . Krause took part in the early campaigns of the war the Polish Campaign and the Battle of France . He was awarded his first combat decoration , the Iron Cross II class , in April 1941 , during Operation Marita the invasion of the Balkans . He next took part in Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union and was awarded the Iron Cross I class in August followed by the Eastern Front Medal for service on the Eastern Front during the first Russian winter of the war in 1942 . Krause was given command of the I . Battalion , 1st SS Panzergrenadier Regiment " LSSAH " in 1943 and then the 1st SS Flak Battalion , " LSSAH " , and fought in the Battle of Kharkov in command of the Flak Battalion where the battalions attacks were of crucial importance . Krause was then transferred to the newly formed SS division 12th SS Panzer Division " Hitlerjugend " in July 1943 , and given command of the I . Battalion , 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment . This new Division ' s first combat was in the Battle of Normandy in June 1944 , and the defence of Caen the Battalion held their position for 17 days , particularly on the 24 June in the area of Saint Manvieu being attacked on both flanks they were able to hold out until withdrawn to new positions . For his bravery and leadership during this time he was awarded the German Cross in Gold . Knight ' s Cross . Krause was awarded the Knight ' s Cross for his actions in August 1944 , in the sector along the Caen to Falaise road . The Allies had broken through the lines in the area of the 89th Infantry Division on the 13 August . Krause had command of a Kampfgruppe and was positioned on both sides of the road to Soulangy with orders to prevent a breakthrough to Falaise . On the 14 August they held out against repeated attacks and were ordered to withdraw to a new position just outside Falaise on the 16 August and secure the road junction one kilometer north of the town . They held this new position against strong attacks from the north , west and southwest , destroying seven tanks and numerous infantry carriers . Suffering heavy losses , the battalion was relocated into Falaise beside the cathedral and the barracks . When they were ordered to pull out , the Battalion consisted of the strength of a weak Company . Krause was then given command of the 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment , 12th SS Panzer Division " Hitlerjugend " . He did not survive the war , but was killed in action on 19 February 1945 .