Ioan Pălăghiță

Ioan Pălăghiţă (13 February 1899, Oneşti – killed in action 9 May 1943, Kuban in Russia) was a Romanian Officer during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Pălăghiţă served on the Eastern Front, a battalion commander in the 94th Infantry Regiment of the 19th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Knight's Cross during the defense of the Kuban bridgehead, when he led a counterattack that saved German forces from being encircled. Just over a month later he was killed in action and was posthumuously promoted twice: first from Major to Lieutenant Colonel, then three days later to full Colonel.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (7 April 1943)