Reichmann, Heinz

Date of birth:: July 30th, 1919 (Celle/Hannover, Germany)
Date of death:: June 24th, 1944 (Witebsk/Belarus, Soviet Union)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Obergefreiter (Corporal)
Unit:: MG-Schütze 8. Kompanie, Jäger-Regiment 459 (L), 6. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:: January 20th, 1944

Awarded for his actions during the nocturnal breakout of two German Bataillone through a Soviet blocking position. During this breakout attempt the two Bataillone could only escape along a narrow route, with rough terrain including swamps present on either side. Here follows a first-hand description of that action by Reichmann himself…

“In the following seconds we received MG-fire of an intensity rarely ever seen, as the enemy had a number of MGs and mortars in position at this location. Everyone jumped from one bit of cover to the next. I immediately took cover in one of the shell craters in the swamp on the right side of the path, and from here opened fire with my own machine gun. The second MG of our Kompanie was knocked out immediately by a mortar blast, having had not even a chance to fire.

Now I was the only soldier near the front who had an MG, and therefore had to be very careful with my ammunition as I’d already fired off 400 rounds. I was lying in front of the enemy positions all by myself and, by firing multiple short bursts, was able to put one enemy MG after another out of commission. Everything mattered in these minutes, as there were ultimately two Bataillone behind me that needed to escape. The two Bataillon commanders paid close attention to the situation, and when all the enemy MGs were silenced they decided the moment to break through had come. With a loud “Hurra” this was accomplished

All our weapons and ammunition of all kinds as well as the dead and wounded could be taken with us. During this breakout both Bataillone had sustained just 17 casualties. As the last enemy soldiers fled, I positioned my MG on the left of the path in order to protect the withdrawal of both Bataillone. I was the among the last to leave, providing the rearguard for my comrades until we finally reached our new main battle line.”