Harry Polewacz

Who was Harry Polewacz?

Harry Polewacz was an Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who 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 Polewacz was born on the 31 March 1909 in Berlin. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in command of the 10th Company. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in September 1939, during the Polish Campaign and the Iron Cross 1st class in June 1940 during the Battle of France.

In late 1940 he posted to the new SS Division being formed SS Division Wiking and given command of the III. Battalion, 9th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Germania.

Polewacz next participated in Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union, where he was awarded the German Cross in Gold in December 1941.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross in December 1942, when in command of the III. Battalion, SS Regiment Nordland. Polewacz was killed in action on the 12 January 1943, near Orlowsky, Russia.