Heintze, Erich

Date of birth:: September 27th, 1916 (Halle an der Saale/Westphalia, Germany)
Date of death:: August 11th, 1998 (Eisleben/Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Erich Heintze finally reached the rank of Oberwachtmeister.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Unteroffizier
Unit:: Geschützführer, 3. Batterie, I. Abteilung, Flak-Regiment 33, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:: March 7th, 1942

The following press article (dated 11.03.1942) describes the Knight’s Cross actions of Erich Heintze…

“Unteroffizier Erich Heintze and Gefreiter Arnold Hübner, members of a Flak-Regiment, were given the high award by the Supreme Commander of Panzerarmee Afrika, Generaloberst Rommel. They have proven themselves in the highest degree through their heroic bravery and decisiveness during the fighting of the Panzerarmee on the north African front. Through the destruction of numerous tanks and enemy battery positions they have brought about decisive battlefield results.

In the middle of these fierce battles Unteroffizier Heintze and his gun were repeatedly engaged in heavy firefights with the enemy without cover. In this time Heintze successfully led his gun and cannoneers. Despite heavy losses he repeatedly led them into combat while showing personal bravery and cold-bloodedness. Up until his wounding he and his gun alone destroyed 23 tanks and an enemy battery over the course of 20 engagements.”