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Heydte, Freiherr von der, Friedrich-August

Date of birth:
March 30th, 1907 (Munich/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:
July 7th, 1994 (Landshut/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3, 7. Flieger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
July 9th, 1941
Awarded for his actions during the battle of Crete. Immediately after landing on the 20.05.1941 his Bataillon stormed the high ground northeast of the Prison Plateau and thereafter pushed forward several kilometres towards Chania, up to a point just before the village of Mournies. He and his men tied down strong opposing forces near Peribolia and Pyrgos.

In the concluding stages of the battle, on the 27.05.1941, Heydte and his Bataillon had the mission of blocking the coastal road south of Chania. However the battle noises on the left-adjacent Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 100 suggested that the Gebirgsjäger were up against hard resistance. As such Heydte decided to divert his left wing Kompanie towards the eastern edge of Chania, and it captured the city’s eastern section. From there the Bataillon continued its advance until it reached the harbour, and in doing so facilitated the attack of the German forces on the western edge of Chania.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3, 7. Flieger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
February 26th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6, 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
September 30th, 1944
Awarded for the outstanding achievements of his Regiment during the Normandy battles, particularly at Carentan, Coutances and Falaise.

617th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

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