Harry Phönix (3 January 1913 — 21 December 1999) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) 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. He was also one of only 631 men to be awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold for 50 days of close combat or hand to hand fighting. Harry Phönix was awarded the Knight's Cross on the 21 February 1945, while in command of the II. Battalion, 8th SS Artillery Regiment, 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer. The Division was fighting on the Hungarian Front at the time and attempting to break out of the encirclement at Budapest (Siege of Budapest).
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“People named John and Mary never divorce. For better or for worse, in madness and in saneness, they seem bound together for eternity by their rudimentary nomenclature. They may loathe and despise one another, quarrel, weep, and commit mayhem, but they are not free to divorce. Tom, Dick, and Harry can go to Reno on a whim, but nothing short of death can separate John and Mary.”
—John Cheever (1912–1982)