Hyacinth Graf Strachwitz von Gro%C3%9F Zauche und Camminetz

Hyacinth Graf Strachwitz von GroZauche und Camminetz was a German Army officer of aristocratic descent. Strachwitz saw action in World War I, but rose to fame for his command of armoured forces in World War II. For these services he was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds , an award created to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership. At the time of its presentation to Strachwitz it was Germanys highest military decoration.

Strachwitz was born in 1893 on his family estate in Silesia. He was educated at various Prussian military academies and served with distinction as a cavalry officer in the opening weeks of World War I. He was captured by the French in October 1914 and almost executed on the spot for wearing civilian clothes. He was later sentenced to forced labour and after an odyssey through various French prisons and several escape attempts he returned to Germany after the war in 1918. In the aftermath of World War I, Strachwitz fought with the Freikorps in the Spartacist uprising of the German Revolution in Berlin, and in the Silesian Uprisings against the Poles and Polish Silesians of Upper Silesia. In the mid1920s he took over the family estate, Gro Stein, from his father and became a member of the Nazi Party and the Allgemeine SS. As an officer in the reserves, he participated in various military exercises during the 1930s.

Source: Wikipedia