Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, Kradsch.Zug, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5, SS-Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

July 26th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, Kradsch.Zug, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5, SS-Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

September 14th, 1942

Bronze version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, Kradsch.Zug, SS-PzAbt.5, SS-Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

January 30th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, Kradsch.Zug, SS-PzAbt.5, SS-Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

March 1943

In silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 4.(StuG.) Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

November 5th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5

Awarded on:

November 9th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”

Awarded on:

November 15th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

December 30th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 21st, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5.SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

May 4th, 1944

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

“Following the union of the two Soviet Ukrainian Fronts in the area Schpola-Swenigorodka, the enemy commenced a surprise attack supported by tanks on the 29.01.1944 against the supply units of the SS-Panzer-Division ‘Wiking’, located in the Olschana area. Their first attack along the road against the northern part of Olschana failed with the loss of 7 self-propelled guns principally due to the efforts of 4 Sturmgeschützen under the command of SS-Obersturmführer Hein. The enemy thus tried again on the 30.01.1944. With two battalions, supported by an anti-tank regiment, they attacked the not-yet secured southern part of Olschana in order to occupy the only supply road of the encircled divisions and cut-off the German elements defending the northern part of the town.

SS-Obersturmführer Hein received the order to take 3 Sturmgeschützen to the southern edge of the town and protect it until an infantry Kompanie could arrive and properly secure it. Meanwhile the enemy had reached the village edge and occupied the supply road along a broad front. Obersturmführer Hein, who had lost one StuG to mechanical damage and another to enemy gunfire along the way, made the independent decision to launch an immediate counterthrust with the other Sturmgeschütz despite the seemingly hopeless situation and the lack of infantry support. With high-explosives, MG fire and machine pistol fire from his hatch, he forced the Russian infantry spearheads into a panicked flight and pursued them. Utilizing the panic that had spread among the enemy, he drove them into the open plains. With no cover available there the Russians took heavy losses.

Despite strong anti-tank fire from a well camouflaged anti-tank gun position along a row of bushy terrain, Hein continued forwards with his attacked and prevented the emplacement of further enemy anti-tank guns through harassing fire. Skillfully using the terrain for cover, he managed to outflank the enemy Pakfront from the right and in doing so eliminated 2 light anti-tank guns (4.5 cm caliber), 4 medium anti-tank guns (7.62 cm caliber) and 1 light infantry gun. Hein then eliminated the scattered support troops/equipment of the anti-tank gun unit and destroyed a self-propelled gun in a further pursuit action.

As a result of this bold surprise thrust the Russians fled back to their field positions about 2 km to the south, while leaving behind uncounted quantities of infantry weapons.

Thus the decisive and extremely brave actions of SS-Obersturmführer Hein managed to prevent an enemy penetration into Olschana and the blocking of the only supply road. It was thereby possible to relocate the important supply units of the Division and the Bataillon ‘Narva’ during a later displacement from Olschana.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5

Awarded on:

November 9th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Kdr., I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

January 5th, 1945

Awarded on:

1934