Anton Grasser

Anton Grasser (3 November 1891 – 3 November 1976) was a German general during World War II who commanded several corps. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Grasser joined the Bundesgrenzschutz (Federal Border Guards) in 1951, retiring in 1953.

In the 1950s, Grasser was involved in organizing an illegal underground army set up by Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS veterans in the event of a Soviet invasion of West Germany. Grasser's role, as inspector general of the police and border police, was to provide this secret army with weapons from the police force in case of war. Grasser was connected to it through Albert Schnez, its leader, who had been Grasser's employer in the first post-war years.

Awards and decorations

Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (18 June 1915) & 1st Class (6 June 1916) Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (21 May 1940) & 1st Class (8 June 1940) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 16 June 1940 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 119 Oak Leaves on 5 December 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of 25. Panzergrenadier-Division Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1953)