Reinefarth, Heinrich (Heinz) Friedrich

Date of birth:: December 25th, 1903 (Gnese, Prussia, German Empire)
Date of death:: May 7th, 1979 (Westerland, West Germany)
Service number:: NSDAP-Nr. 1.268.933 / SS-Nr. 56.634
Nationality:: German

Biography

The war criminal SS-Gruppenführer Heinrich Reinefarth was responsible for the Wola Massacre during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.

SS/Military career:
August 1st, 1932: SS-Mann
1932: SS-Scharführer
December 19th, 1932: SS-Mann
March 6th, 1934: SS-Obertruppführer
April 20, 1934: SS-Untersturmführer
September 15, 1934 - September 15, 1935: SS-Obersturmführer
April 20, 1937: SS-Hauptsturmführer
November 9, 1937: Gunner
April 20th, 1939: SS-Sturbannführer
September 1939: Unteroffizier d. R.
1940: Feldwebel d. R.
April 20th, 1940: SS-Obersturmbannführer
July 1st, 1940: Leutnant d. R.
April 20th, 1941: SS-Standartenführer
January 30th, 1942: SS-Oberführer
April 20th, 1942: SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Polizei
September 1, 1944 - August 1, 1944: SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS und Polizei

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Julleuchter der SS

Rank:: SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:: December 6th, 1935

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Unteroffizier der Reserve (Corporal of Reserves)
Awarded on:: September 25th, 1939

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Feldwebel der Reserve
Awarded on:: May 28th, 1940

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:: 14.(Panzerjäger)/Infanterie-Regiment 33, 208. Infanteriedivisie, Heer
Awarded on:: June 25th, 1940

On 28.05.1940 Feldwebel Reinefarth launched a reconnaissance mission along the route Pervyse-Avecapelle-Rousdame. On his own initiative he captured a fully intact French battery with 4 guns. Later on, according to the war reporter Leo Leixner and Reinefarth’s own account, Reinefarth took 2 men and drove in the direction of Furnes. Thanks to his cold-bloodedness he was able to force the surrender of a French colonel, 4 artillery batteries with their ammunition and 2 battalions (a total of 3000 men) in the town of Avecapelle. In doing so he greatly assisted the German drive on Dunkirk, and for these actions Reinefarth would receive the Knight’s Cross.

Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Brigadeführer / Generalmajor der Polizei (Brigadier)
Awarded on:: 1943

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Gruppenführer / Generalleutnant der Polizei
Unit:: Korpsgruppe von dem Bach, Waffen-SS
Awarded on:: September 30th, 1944

Awarded for the achievements of Kampfgruppe Reinefarth during the Warsaw uprising. Formed on 01.08.1944, the Kampfgruppe was in the first days of the battle able to launch an attack along the west-east axis that succeeded in securing the bridges over the Vistula. With this the preconditions were creating for the destruction of the Polish resistance in the city, during which Reinefarth’s Kampfgruppe was also heavily involved.

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