Harry Paletta

Who was Harry Paletta?

Harry Paletta was a Hauptsturmführer 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.

Harry Paletta was born in Scholastykowo, West Prussia. He volunteered to join the Waffen SS and was posted to the newly formed SS Division Wiking. He took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union where he was awarded the Iron Cross. He was also awarded the Wound Badge when wounded in August 1941 and the Infantry Assault Badge in February 1942.

Harry Paletta was posted to the 105th Sturmgeschütz Battalion, V SS Mountain Corps in Banat. It was never more than a battery but maintained the battalion designation. After service in Bosnia, with the 92nd Grenadier Regiment, and a security mission with the corps command post near Mostar, the battalion was assigned to the 7th SS Panzerjäger Battalion in September 1944.

Paletta was awarded the Knight's Cross posthumously after being killed in action on the 14 November 1944, during fighting at the Batina bridgehead in Yugoslavia.