Erich Rech was a Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II. Erich Rech was awarded the Knight's Cross on the 23 August 1944, while an Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant) and a platoon commander in the 2nd Company, 10th SS Panzer Division, Reconnaissance Battalion. Rech did not survive the war but was killed in action on 4 October 1944.