 For the invasion of Poland in September 1939 , his regiment was attached to the XIII Army Corps , a part of the 8th Army . Near Warsaw on 24 September , he was one of four men selected by his company commander , then SS @-@ Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Mohnke to negotiate the surrender of Polish troops during the Battle of Modlin . He was picked because of his ability , although very limited , to speak Polish . After the negotiations failed , the Germans headed back to their lines . When they were about 80 metres from the fort , firing began . Several rounds hit Misch , who then fell down and lost consciousness . Some German soldiers carried him to an aid station . Later , he was transferred to two different hospitals . Thereafter , he spent six weeks at a convalescent home . For his actions , Misch was awarded the Iron Cross , Second Class . As Misch was the last living member of his Lower Silesian family , Mohnke recommended him for the Führerbegleitkommando ( Führer Escort Command ; FBK ) . This was made up of SS members , including men from the LSSAH , who no longer had to serve on the front lines . 
