Ritterkreuz Actions of Heinz Greiner

Heinrich "Heinz" Greiner (12 August 1895 - 19 November 1977) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 22 September 1941 as Oberst and Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 499 / 268.Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for distinguishing himself during the defensive battles in the Yelnya pocket in 1941. The regiment he led were responsible for preventing a complete Soviet encirclement in the Yelnya Offensive, during which Greiner, for his stiff, hold-out defense of Wehrmacht forces evacuating the salient, earned the nickname the "Lion of Yelnya" from his soldiers.

Greiner received the Eichenlaub #572 for his Ritterkreuz on 5 September 1944 as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 362. Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for his outstanding command of a Kampfgruppe composed of Heer and Fallschirmjäger troops in the area Velletri—Valmontone (on the Anzio front). His unit repelled a total of 38 Allied attacks on both sides of Velletri through either a successful initial defense or via immediate counterthrusts against hostile penetrations. The Wehrmachtbericht aired on 2 June 1944 mentioned his name as follows: "In diesem Frontabschnitt haben sich die 65. Infanteriedivison unter Generalleutnant Pfeiffer, die durch Teile der 4. Fallschirmjägerdivision verstärkte 3. Panzergrenadierdivision unter Generalmajor Hecker und eine aus Einheiten des Heeres und der Fallschirmtruppe zusammengestellte Kampfgruppe unter Generalleutnant Greiner, hervorragend unterstützt durch Artillerie und durch Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe, besonders ausgezeichnet." (In this section of the front have the 65th Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Pfeiffer, augmented by parts of the 4th Airborne Division which reinforced the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division under Major General Hecker and units from the Army and the parachute troops assembled combat group under Lieutenant General Greiner, well supported by artillery and anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe, particularly distinguished themselves)

Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/heinz-greiner_CD04AECA6C
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Heinz_Greiner
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/35945/Greiner-Heinrich-Heinz.htm