Berger, Heinz-Arthur (1. Flak-Division)

Date of birth:: May 5th, 1917 (Breslau/Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:: October 19th, 1996 (Hürth-Cologne/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Promotions:
1937: Kanonier;
1938: Gefreiter;
1939: Unteroffizier der Reserve;
1939: Wachtmeister der Reserve;
1940: Leutnant der Reserve;
9th April 1942: Oberleutnant der Reserve;
11th July 1942: Oberleutnant;
1st September 1944: Hauptmann.

Career:
25th April 1937 - 24th October 1937: RAD;
2nd November 1937: 1.Batterie / Flak-Regiment 20;
1st January 1938: 1.Batterie / Flak-Regiment 23;
5th September 1938 - 22nd September 1938: 10,5-cm-Flak-Lehrgang 2.Batterie / Flak-Regiment 32;
15th November 1938: Geschützführer 8,8-cm-Flak 18, 6.Batterie / Flak-Regiment 13;
5th April 1939 - 15th April 1939: Reserve-Offiziers-Lehrgang 6.Batterie;
10th August 1939: 1.Batterie / Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 135;
9th January 1940: Mess-Offizier/Geschützstaffelführer 1.Batterie / Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 134;
15th February 1940 - 20th March 1940: Lehrgang Meß-Offiziere der schweren Flak / Flakartillerieschule IV, Schongau;
15th September 1940 - 25th September 1940: Lehrgang Aufnahme und Auswertung / Flakartillerie-Schule I, Rerik;
1940: Batrerieoffizier/Offizier z.b.V. 2. Batterie / Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 134 / Flak-Regiment 33 / Flak-Gruppe Halle-Leuna;
23rd June 1941: 5a Offiziers-Lehrgang für dem Messdienst / Kommandogerät 40 / 1.Flaklehr- und Versuchsbatterie / Flaklehr- und Versuchs-Abteilung / Flakartillerie-Schule I, Rerik;
16th September 1941: Ausbildungsoffizier Stab / Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 134;
6th October 1941 - 17th December 1941: 1 Lehrgang für Offiziere / 9.Kriegs-Offiziers-Nachwuchs-Lehrgang und Überprüfungslehrgang für Reserve- und Kriegs-Offiziere / Luftkriegsschule 6 (Flak), Bernau;
22nd April 1942: Stab / schweren Flak-Abteilung 134 / Flakgruppe Leuna-Ost;
4th May 1942: Führer 2.Batterie / Flak-Regiment 411;
23rd November 1942: Lehrgangsgruppe A5 / Lehrgang für Batterie-Chefs der schweren Flak Nr. 126g / Flakartillerieschule I, Rerik;
19th September 1943: Adjutant Stab / Flak-Regiment 151;
13th February 1944: Chef 3.Batterie / Flak-Regiment 411 (mot.);
20th July 1944: within Höheren Kommandeur der Flakartillerie-Schulen;
1st October 1944: Taktiklehrer Luftkriegsschule 8, Göppingen;
1st February 1945: Ia Stab / 1.Flak-Division;
8th May 1945 Soviet POW;
21st September 1949: released.

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Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: January 30th, 1942

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: July 26th, 1942

Awarded for a wound received on July 20th, 1942.

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: July 31st, 1942

Flakkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: October 1st, 1942

Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe ohne zahlen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: January 5th, 1943

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: February 12th, 1943

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:: Batterieführer, 2.Batterie, I. Abteilung, Flak-Regiment 411, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:: April 3rd, 1943

The following excerpt from the “Breslauer Neuste Nachrichten” describes why Berger was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Oberleutnant Berger distinguished himself through particular ruthlessness and courage while defending against a major Soviet attack that was meant to sever an important land corridor. In the hard fighting for the single supply road of an Armee-Korps the guns destroyed 20 enemy tanks in one day. Of these he personally destroyed 10 while manning a gun, and he knocked out another in close combat. Through this the bold officer significantly contributed to the favourable outcome of the battle.”

Recommended on February 18th, 1943.