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Born, Heinrich

Date of birth:
November 6th, 1918 (Mettmann/Rhineprovince, Germany)
Date of death:
January 19th, 2008 (Zweibrücken/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Nationality:
German

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 20th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 20th, 1941

Silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 27th, 1942

Class not formally known.
Cross to the Order for Bravery 5th Class
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 20th, 1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 30th, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 4th, 1943
Ärmelband Afrika
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer 4. / Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 104 / 15.Panzer-Grenadier-Division
Awarded on:
April 14th, 1945
Awarded for his actions during the defensive battle near Heishof in early 1945. Here he rejected an order to withdraw and instead set up a blocking position with 10 volunteers against a Canadian armoured attack that was carried out with 30-40 tanks as well as infantry. The attack was repulsed with no losses on the German side (even wounded soldiers), and the result of this was that two German divisions which would have otherwise fallen into captivity were able to instead disengage from the enemy.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

  • Photo 1: Norbert Beyerlein
  • Photo: Beyerlein sammlung
  • - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
    - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
    - Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945
    - Ritterkreuz Archiv I / 2008
    - ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de

Photo