Gerald Krause
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Gerald Krause (2 July 1919 - ) was a German Waffen-SS officer during World War II. Krause rapidly rose to the rank of Sturmbannführer for his excellent presence in the field and his highly regarded leadership abilities.
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[edit] Early life
Gerald was born to Maxamillion Kraüse and Gertrude Kraüse in the city of Kiel on the 2nd day of July in 1919. In his early teens prior to the Third Reich, Krause excelled in school and on the soccer pitch, where he was a highly touted athlete and striker.
[edit] World War II
Krause closely followed the ideologies of Adolf Hitler, and soon like most Germans, was a supporter of the new leadership. In December of 1939, he applied for service in the élite Waffen-SS. In early 1940, Krause was inducted into the SS and posted to SS-Standarte Germania for training. After a couple months of training, Krause was given the rank of Unterscharführer and joined the Standarte's III.Battalion, based at Radolfzell. Krause was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class for his action's on D-Day in Normandy, he successfuly lead an undermanned and overwhelemed platoon of Waffen-SS soldiers in the defence of a howtizer near the beach head of Utah. He saw action continuesly on both fronts threwout the following years, gaining admiration from not only his soldiers, but from his leaders for his sheer willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of the Nazi Party. These actions caught up to him in late 1944 during what is called today as the Battle of the Bulge, attempting to link up with II.Battalion he was seriously wounded in the shoulder by an American patrol which he encountered by himself, before he was wounded it's reported he fatally shot 5 Allied soldiers. Krause managed his way back to III.Battalion and informed of the American Patrol before collapsing. Saving many Nazi lives with this action of courage and perservirence, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class, as well as the Wound Badge Black for his injury.
[edit] Post War
Following the war, Krause fled to Spain to escape prosecution of war crimes during the Nuremburg Trials, he stayed there until 1949 when he moved to the United States. He still resides there today.
[edit] Awards and Decorations
At the time of the German Armies unconditional surrender, Krause had these decorations:
- Iron Cross 1st Class
- Iron Cross 2nd Class
- Wound Badge in Black
- Infantry Assault Badge
