Hemmerich, Erwin

Date of birth:: July 16th, 1915 (Holzwickede/Unna, Germany)
Date of death:: March 19th, 1945 (Rheinbrohl/Andernach, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Erwin Hemmerich lies buried in Grave 23 at the Kriegsgräberstätte in Rheinbrohl. He reached the rank of Hauptmann.

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Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: 3. Kompanie, Pionier-Bataillon 106, 106. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: April 1st, 1942

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Pionier-Bataillon 326, 326. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: March 28th, 1945

During the Allied counterattack against the northern German flank of the Ardennes offensive, the Pionier-Bataillon 326 under the command of Hauptmann Hemmerich stood as the defenders of the village of Neuville, northwest of St. Vith. They defended this village with the courage of desperation against much superior Allied forces, destroying a number of tanks and preventing a breakthrough here that would have had grim consequences for the wider situation. Hemmerich would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for the defensive stand of his Bataillon here.

Awarded posthumously.