Career
He was awarded the. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World World War World War II Obersturmführer Heinz Gropp was awarded the Knight"s Cross when in command of the 9th Steamship Flak Battalion on the 6 May 1945. There is some dispute over the award as it was authorised by Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich in his position as commander of the German Sixth Steamship Panzer Army, who claimed to have been given the authority by Adolf Hitler in person. Bibliography.