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Wittenbecher, Heinz

    Date of birth:
    August 5th, 1914 (Bernburg/Anhalt, Germany)
    Date of death:
    July 15th, 1943 (Teploje, Russia)
    Nationality:
    German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

    Biography

    Entry in the Wehrmacht:
    5th November 1937 - 8.(MG) Kompanie Infanterie-Regiment 33

    Promotions:
    1st October 1938 - Gefreiter and selection to Fahnenjunker (ROA)
    1st June 1939 - Unteroffizier
    1st October 1939 - Feldwebel
    1st April 1940 - Leutnant der Reserve
    1st April 1942 - Oberleutnant der Reserve
    Posthumously promoted to Hauptmann with the entry date of 1st July 1943.
    Heinz Wittenbecher was killed on 15th July 1943 on the Eastfront as Führer I. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33 near Teploje, 70 km south of Orel.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Feldwebel
    Awarded on:
    October 7th, 1939
    Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    12. / Schützen-Regiment 33
    Awarded on:
    June 19th, 1940
    Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    12. / Schützen-Regiment 33
    Awarded on:
    October 9th, 1940

    Bronze version.
    Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    4. / Schützen-Regiment 33
    Awarded on:
    July 29th, 1941
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
    Unit:
    4. (schwere) / Schützen-Regiment 33
    Awarded on:
    June 11th, 1942
    Received for a single wound inflicted on 20th November 1941.
    Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    Kompaniechef 4. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33
    Awarded on:
    April 24th, 1943
    Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    4. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33
    Awarded on:
    May 10th, 1943
    Nahkampfspange in Bronze
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
    Unit:
    Führer I. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33
    Awarded on:
    November 26th, 1943

    Awarded posthumously.
    Nahkampfspange in Silber

    Sources

    • Photo 1: H.-P. Rackete
    • - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
      - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
      - Award documents and Wehrpass

    Photo