Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 4th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 3rd, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer, 5. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 126, 23. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1945

Heiland’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Leutnant Heiland launched an attack on his own initiative against enemy forces that had infiltrated and penetrated into his neighbouring sector. Although his Kompanie was by now exhausted from long withdrawal movements it was possible to throw back the enemy, and by doing so the disintegration of the Lenti bridgehead was prevented. Heiland personally eliminated an enemy 7.62 cm anti-tank gun. 60 enemy dead were counted in the aftermath, and 28 ammunition wagons along with 40 horses were taken as war booty.

Heiland was wounded on the 07.04.1945.”


His nomination by his unit was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 12-4-1945 via teleprinter message. There is no file card in the archives. The book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses) states an entry date of 12-4-1945. In the comment field is a short entry "follow-up on 10 May". Scherzer speculates that the approvals of the command chain were missing and had to be requested just like in many similar cases. The nomination was to be presented again to Major Joachim Domaschk on 10 May. The nomination was never finalized and was left unfinished by the end of the war. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR) the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel. Heiland was a member of the OdR.