serviceyears branch death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
1939 -- 45 23px waffen-ss ensdorf 14 february 1990 zwickau nazi germany 9th ss panzer division '' hohenstaufen '' knight i class iron cross ii class tank destruction badge 's cross of the iron cross iron cross world war ii 29 january 1912 obersturmführer heinz gropp
 heinz gropp
heinz gropp

heinz gropp -lrb- 29 january 1912 -- 14 february 1990 -rrb- was an obersturmführer -lrb- first lieutenant -rrb- in the waffen-ss during world war ii .
he 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 .
obersturmführer heinz gropp was awarded the knight 's cross when in command of the 9th ss flak battalion on the 6 may 1945 .
there is some dispute over the award as it was authorised by oberstgruppenführer sepp dietrich in his position as commander of the german sixth ss panzer army , who claimed to have been given the authority by adolf hitler in person .
