Date of birth:

June 30th, 1918 (Groß Küdde-Neustettin/Pommerania, Germany)

Date of death:

November 18th, 2017 (Warburg/Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 313.763 // NSDAP-Nr.: 7.245.983

Nationality:

German

Eberhard Heder was born on 30th June 1918. He entered SS-Pionier-Bataillon Dresden on 1st November 1937. As a junior officer he trained with the SS-Standarten "Germania" and "Dresden". In 1939 he followed the Junker School Braunschweig and was a Company commander in 1940. With the "Wiking" Division he was deployed to the Eastfront. In 1943 he joined the SS-Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 5. After this he was the company commander of the Panzer Division "Wiking" and later retured to SS-Panzer Pioneer Battalion 5 as its commander.

After the Second World War he served with the Bundeswehr from March 1st, 1960 until September 30th, 1976 and finally reached the rank of Oberst.

Promotions:
21.04.1940: SS-Untersturmführer
30.01.1942: SS-Obersturmführer
21.06.1944: SS-Hauptsturmführer

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 12th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 18th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 6th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 3. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Battailon 5, 5.SS-Panzer Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

March 11th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Kdr, SS-Panzer Pionier Battailon 5, 5. SS-Panzer Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

November 18th, 1944

Heder’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 13.10.1944 Heder was deployed to close a frontline gap with a hastily assembled group of supply troops numbering 400 men. The blocking position was located in the Letniska forest, and the defense was hampered by the absence of heavy infantry weapons and the small number of MGs available. Over the course of three days and nights it was attacked 21 times, 6 of these being preceded by multi-hour drumfire barrages. Two enemy divisions, including 24 AFVs, attacked without pause.

After being encircled Heder formed a hedgehog position in the forest and was cut off from regular resupply for two days.

During this time Heder personally led 15 counterthrusts at the head of the approximately 80 men in the hedgehog position, repeatedly thrusting on his own initiative up to the old blocking position and bringing the enemy heavy losses in the process.

The Letniska forest was held successfully, and after reinforcements had been brought up the old defensive line was once again restored. This success was possible solely on account of the decisiveness, steadfastness and exemplary bravery of Heder himself.

By this action the intended Russian breakthrough towards Jablonna, which would have in turn served as a jump-off point for a further thrust to Modlin, was halted in its tracks.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Andrew Straube
• Photo: Andrew Straube via www.Death-Cards.com
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
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