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Sachsenheimer, Maximilian Heinrich "Max"

Date of birth:
December 5th, 1909 (Mühlbach/Baden, Germany)
Date of death:
June 2nd, 1973 (Merzhausen/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Nationality:
German

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Chef 1./Infanterie-Regiment 75 / 5. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
May 25th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Chef 1./Infanterie-Regiment 75 / 5. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
June 16th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur II. / Jäger-Regiment 75 / 5.leichte Infanterie-Division / X.Armee-Korps / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:
April 5th, 1942
On 28.03.1942 Sachsenheimer and his Bataillon found themselves fighting near Jaswy (SE of Staraya-Russa). On this day they launched an assault against Point 31, NW of Jaswy, in order to set up a strongpoint there. With Sachsenheimer at the front of the attack, they were able to wrest control of the hill from the Soviets and consequently bring about security for the all-important Staraya-Russa road, which was an important prerequisite for continuing the German attack in this sector. Sachsenheimer would receive the Knight’s Cross for this decisive act.

954th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommanderu II. / Jäger-Regiment 75 / 5.Jäger-Division
Awarded on:
February 3rd, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Award 287/51
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Führer Jäger-Regiment 75 / 5.Jäger-Division / LVI.Panzer-Korps / 2.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte
Awarded on:
May 14th, 1944
Awarded for his Regiment’s role in the German relief attack towards Kovel, as detailed in the following chronology…

22.03.1944 - Reinforced Jäger-Regiment 75 arrives from Brest-Litovsk to participate in the Kovel relief operation.

26.03.1944 - The town of Zyrcze captured in a surprise attack.

27.03.1944 - Sachsenheimer and his men capture the bridge NW of Gomiki through an attack from the rear.

Night of 31.03.-01.04.1944 - The Wyzowka stream is crossed and the village of Piaseczno captured in close combat.

10.04.1944 - Sachsenheimer’s Regiment captures the railway line and station at St. Myzowa. Subsequently all Soviet attempts to recapture the place are repulsed.

472nd Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur 17.Infanterie-Division / 9.Armee / Heeresgruppe A
Awarded on:
February 6th, 1945
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Awarded for his achievements in early 1945. His Division became the focus of a major Soviet offensive launched from the Pulawy bridgehead on 14.01.1945. After a valiant defense that resulted in 100 enemy tanks being destroyed the Division fought its way back to Silesia.

Later, on the 05.02.1945, Sachsenheimer’s Division carried out an attack against the town of Dyhemfurth, located on the eastern bank of the Oder. Here they succeeded in retaking the local poison gas factory, in order to prevent the facilities and the poison gas stocks from falling into Soviet hands. German chemistry experts were eventually able to render these stocks harmless.

132nd Award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Sources

  • Photo 1: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  • Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  • - 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
    - Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer, Elite of the Third Reich - The Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-45: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, England, 2003
    - Berger, F., Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern – Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges, Selbstverlag Florian Berger, Wien, Österreich, 2002/03
    - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
    - Williamson, G., Knight’s Cross, Oak-Leaves and Swords Recipients 1941-45, Osprey Publishing Ltd., Great Britain, 2005
    - Reinicke, A., Die 5. Jäger-Division – Polen, Westfeldzug 1940, Rußland, Das Ende an der Oderfront, Nebel Verlag GmbH, Eggolsheim, Deutschland, 2003

Photos