Edse, Heinrich

Date of birth:: February 13th, 1910 (Neustädter Wald/Pommerania, Germany)
Date of death:: June 21st, 1991 (Wirges/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Führer I. / Grenadier-Regiment 407 / 121. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: April 15th, 1944

During the time period 03.-08.04.1944 the Soviets launched a major offensive south of Pskov, with its main effort being directed against the division just to the left of the 121. Infanterie-Division. As a result the extreme left wing unit of the Division, namely the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 407 under the command of Oberleutnant Edse, came under attack as well.

In this timeframe an force of tanks and mounted infantry broke through the Kompanie’s position along the Panewo—Dulowka road. Though the Kompanie was overrun by the tanks it kept its nerve and succeeded in separating the Soviet tanks from their infantry. The tanks were knocked out by a Pak positioned further back, while Edse and his troops eliminated the enemy infantry. This section of frontline would remain in German hands, and Oberleutnant Edse later received the Knight’s Cross for this battlefield success.