Bernhard Krause

Bernhard Krause (11 May 1910 – 19 February 1945) 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 (LSSAH) and promoted to Hauptsturmführer (captain) in January 1939.

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

Krause (German for ruffle) is a common German surname that may refer to: