Nickel, Heinrich-Georg
- Date of birth:
- December 5th, 1894 (Wesel-Rees/Rhine Province, Germany)
- Date of death:
- January 2nd, 1979 (Lingen/Lower Saxony, Germany)
- Nationality:
- German
Biography
Career and promotions:
17th September 1915: Einjähriger, Kriegsfreiwilliger Ersatz-Fuß-Artillerie-Regiment 4;
14th November1914: Kanonier 3. / Ersatz-Fuß-Artillerie-Regiment 8;
1st December 1914: Kanonier 6. / Ersatz-Fuß-Artillerie-Regiment 8;
24th January 1915: Kanonier Mörser-Bataillon 208;
27th April 1915: Gefreiter;
24th September 1915: Unteroffizier;
14th October 1915: Gruppenführer Reichs-Infanterie-Regimjent 51;
24th December 1915: Vizefeldwebel und Offiziersaspirant, Zugführer Reichs-Infanterie-Regimjent 51;
18th January 1917: Leutnant der Reserve;
4th March 1919: left the Heer;
28th November 1921: Polizei-Oberleutnant, Schützpolizei;
1st November 1931: Polizei-Hauptmann;
1st August 1935: in the Wehrmacht;
15th October 1935: Kompanie-Chef 2. / infanterie-Regiment 65;
1st August 1936: Major;
12th October 1937: Stab I. / Infanterie-Regiment 65;
10th November 1938: Kommandeur III. / Infanterie-Regiment 26;
1st January 1940: Oberstleutnant;
10th December 1940: Kommandeur II. / Infanterie-Regiment 254;
3rd September 1941: Führer Infanterie-Regiment 502;
1st October 1941: Oberst;
25th April 1943: OKH / Führerreserve;
10th September 1943: Divisions-Führer Heeresgruppe Mitte;
25th September 1943: Stellv. Führer 342.Infanterie-Division;
25th November 1943: Führer 342.Infanterie-Division;
1st January 1944: Generalmajor, Kommandeur 342.Infanterie-Division;
1st July 1944: Generalleutnant.
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1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Major
- Unit:
- Kommandeur III. / Infanterie-regiment 26
- Awarded on:
- September 19th, 1939
Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 29th July 1916 as Vizefeldwebel and Zügführer Reichs-Infanterie-Regiment 51.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Major
- Unit:
- Kommandeur III. / Infanterie-regiment 26
- Awarded on:
- November 13th, 1939
Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 28th August 1918 as Leutnant der Reserve and Zugführer Reichs Infanterie Regiment 51.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 26, 30. Infanterie-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- June 16th, 1940
“Oberstleutnant Heinrich Nickel, commander of an Infanterie-Bataillon, especially distinguished himself as an officer through his bravery and personal self-sacrifice. On the 17.05.1940 he was the first man of his Bataillon to storm the heavily defended Brussels-Antwerp canal. He and his men crossed over the wreckage of a bridge in the face of heavy enemy fire and succeeded in seizing the village on the opposite bank in harsh urban combat.
During the battle along the Scheldt Oberstleutnant Nickel fought along the totally open northern wing of his Division. Here he seized key features of terrain from the enemy in a surprise attack and held them against several enemy combined-arms counterattacks.
In the battle for the Lys river, Oberstleutnant Nickel launched an assault that captured multiple enemy positions. Here he personally captured 3 enemy batteries that were defended to the last artillery piece and carbine.
In sum, the bold performance of Oberstleutnant Nickel significantly contributed to the advance of his Armeekorps through 10 strong river lines in northern Belgium. This unstoppable onslaught prevented the Allied enemy forces from consolidating in an orderly defensive frontline.”
74th Award.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberst (Colonel)
- Unit:
- Führer, Grenadier-Regiment 502, 290. Infanterie-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- March 29th, 1943
Award 341/1.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Generalmajor
- Unit:
- Kommandeur 342.Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- April 30th, 1944
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Generalleutnant
- Unit:
- Kommandeur 342.Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- July 11th, 1944
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Generalleutnant (Major-general)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, 342. Infanterie-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- August 8th, 1944
543rd Award.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
- - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
- das-ritterkreuz.de
- Die Tapfersten
Photo
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