Heinz Harmel
Encyclopedia
Heinz Harmel was a German
Waffen-SS
General during World War II
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
. Harmel was the son of a medical officer of the 67th Infantry Regiment in Magdeburg
. A military career seemed to offer the best opportunities for him. Volunteering in 1926, Heinz Harmel enlisted in the Reichswehr
, in the 15th Company of the 6th Infantry Regiment in Ratzeburg
. But the Treaty of Versailles, which limited the size of the Reichswehr, did not allow him to pursue an active military career, so Harmel continued to serve in the Army reserve, where he achieved the rank of Oberfeldwebel
.
When Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, Harmel retired from the Army and on October 2, 1935, entered to the SS-Verfügungstruppe
(Later known as Waffen-SS) as SS-Oberscharführer
and was assigned to the 1st Company of the SS-Standarte "Germania" in Hamburg. On January 30, 1937, Harmel was promoted to the SS-Untersturmführer
and served as platoon commander in the 7th Company of the SS-Standarte "Deutschland" in Munich
. On 30 January 1938, Harmel obtained the rank of SS-Obersturmführer
. After the annexation of Austria to the German Reich, on March 13, 1938, Harmel moved with his unit to Klagenfurt
, capital of Carinthia
. There, Harmel was appointed as commander of the 9th Company of the new SS-Regiment "Der Führer". On January 30, 1939, Harmel was further promoted to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer
, captain.
, on 1940, Harmel fought with his company in the Holland and Flanders
, where he received the Iron Cross
2nd Class and 1st Class, and the Infantry Assault Badge
. Then, Harmel went to the south of France. On 1 January 1941, Harmel became commander of the 2nd Battalion of the SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Der Führer". On April 1941, Harmel took part in the Balkans Campaign. In Belgrade
, Harmel was promoted to the rank of SS-Sturmbannführer
, major. On June 1941, the German offensive (Operation Barbarossa
) began against the Soviet Union
. With SS-Infanterie-Division (mot.) "Reich" (Later known as 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"), under the command of the SS-Gruppenführer
Paul Hausser
, Harmel took part in fights near Jelna. For this action, Harmel was awarded the German Cross
in gold on the November 29, 1941.
On December 4, 1941, Harmel took command of SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Deutschland", whose commander, SS-Oberführer Wilhelm Bittrich, replaced SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser as divisional commander when he was seriously wounded. Harmel officially became commander of the SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Deutschland" on June 18, 1942. He was promoted to the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer, lieutenant colonel, on October 20, 1942. During the winter of 1942-1943, Harmel struggled with his men near Rzhev-Oskol, with courage and selflessness. Harmel participated in the capture of Kharkov on March 15, 1943. He distinguished himself by attacking with his regiment at night. To honor these heroic actions, Heinz Harmel received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
on March 31, 1943. He also received the Tank Destruction Badge
. This badge was instituted by Adolf Hitler on March 9, 1942 to honor individuals who single-handedly destroyed an enemy tank with hand held explosives. On April 20, 1943, Harmel was promoted to the rank of SS-Standartenführer
. On September 7, 1943, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
and the Close Combat Clasp
in silver.
From March 1944 to April 1944, SS-Standartenführer Harmel followed a training for divisional commanders at Hirschberg
. On April 1944, Heinz Harmel took command of the 10th SS Panzer Division "Frundsberg"
and on May 18, 1944, Harmel was promoted to the SS-Oberführer. On September 9, 1944, Harmel was promoted to the rank of SS-Brigadeführer
. At 38-years-old, Harmel was respectfully called "Der Alte" (The Old) by his men, who were often themselves teenagers. The 10th SS Panzer Division "Frundsberg" theoretically accounted 19,513 men, but it was already greatly reduced by the fighting and never reached this count.
During the summer 1944, the division moved from the Eastern Front
to the Western Front
, in Normandy. Harmel had been ordered to break the enemy's lines, to free the German units, trapped at Falaise Pocket
. On August 1944, approximately 125,000 German soldiers of the 7th Army was encircled. The operation ended with heavy losses and serious damage. Harmel was then sent to the Netherlands
. He fought for the defense of the Reich against the Allied offensive (Operation Market Garden
). He distinguished himself again during the battle. After the fights around Nijmegen, Harmel received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
on December 15, 1944. His division was then transferred to Alsace
, where Harmel was ordered to establish a bridgehead to join the Colmar Pocket
. After the failure of the December 1944/January 1945 offensive in Alsace, Harmel's division was transferred to the eastern front, initially fighting in Pommerania and Brandenburg to hold the Oder Front. The division was subsequently transferred to Heeresgruppe Mitte where in late April it was ordered to counterattack the forces of Marshal Konev. Obeying such orders would have resulted in the guaranteed destruction of the division - Harmel refused. Called before Generalfeldmarschal Schoerner, he was dismissed from command of the "Frundsberg" division. SS-Brigadeführer Harmel ended the war on May 1945, commanding an ad hoc battle group formed around the 24th SS Karstjager division, the SS Officer's School at Graz, Austria and other smaller units. The battle group's mission was to secure the mountain passes along the Austrian - Slovenia border to provide a secure retreat route for German forces fleeing Yugoslavia. Harmel's command was one of the last to surrender and did so to the British forces in Austria.
. Heinz Harmel was one of the most decorated officer of the Waffen-SS during World War II. Heinz Harmel died in Krefeld
, on September 2, 2000.
In the 1977 movie A Bridge Too Far
, German
actor Hardy Kruger
portrays a character named SS-Brigadeführer Ludwig, which based on Heinz Harmel and Walter Harzer. Harmel did not want his name to be mentioned in the movie.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
General during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Biography
Early life
Heinz Harmel was born on June 29, 1906, in Metz, the largest fortress of the German EmpireGerman Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. Harmel was the son of a medical officer of the 67th Infantry Regiment in Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
. A military career seemed to offer the best opportunities for him. Volunteering in 1926, Heinz Harmel enlisted in the Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
, in the 15th Company of the 6th Infantry Regiment in Ratzeburg
Ratzeburg
Ratzeburg is a town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is surrounded by four lakes—the resulting isthmuses between the lakes form the access lanes to the town. Ratzeburg is the capital of the Kreis of Lauenburg.-History:...
. But the Treaty of Versailles, which limited the size of the Reichswehr, did not allow him to pursue an active military career, so Harmel continued to serve in the Army reserve, where he achieved the rank of Oberfeldwebel
Feldwebel
Feldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
.
When Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, Harmel retired from the Army and on October 2, 1935, entered to the SS-Verfügungstruppe
SS-Verfügungstruppe
The SS-Verfügungstruppe was formed in 1934 as combat troops for the NSDAP. By 1940 these military SS units had become the nucleus of the Waffen-SS....
(Later known as Waffen-SS) as SS-Oberscharführer
Oberscharführer
Oberscharführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that existed between the years of 1932 and 1945. Translated as “Senior Squad Leader”, Oberscharführer was first used as a rank of the Sturmabteilung and was created due to an expansion of the enlisted positions required by growing SA membership...
and was assigned to the 1st Company of the SS-Standarte "Germania" in Hamburg. On January 30, 1937, Harmel was promoted to the SS-Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the German Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921...
and served as platoon commander in the 7th Company of the SS-Standarte "Deutschland" in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. On 30 January 1938, Harmel obtained the rank of SS-Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
. After the annexation of Austria to the German Reich, on March 13, 1938, Harmel moved with his unit to Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt
-Name:Carinthia's eminent linguists Primus Lessiak and Eberhard Kranzmayer assumed that the city's name, which literally translates as "ford of lament" or "ford of complaints", had something to do with the superstitious thought that fateful fairies or demons tend to live around treacherous waters...
, capital of Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
. There, Harmel was appointed as commander of the 9th Company of the new SS-Regiment "Der Führer". On January 30, 1939, Harmel was further promoted to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
, captain.
World War II
During the Battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, on 1940, Harmel fought with his company in the Holland and Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, where he received the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd Class and 1st Class, and the Infantry Assault Badge
Infantry Assault Badge
The Infantry Assault Badge was a German war badge awarded to Waffen SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during WWII. This decoration was instituted on December 20th 1939 by the Oberstbefehlshaber des Heeres, Generalfeldmarschall von Brauchitsch...
. Then, Harmel went to the south of France. On 1 January 1941, Harmel became commander of the 2nd Battalion of the SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Der Führer". On April 1941, Harmel took part in the Balkans Campaign. In Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Harmel was promoted to the rank of SS-Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
, major. On June 1941, the German offensive (Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
) began against the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. With SS-Infanterie-Division (mot.) "Reich" (Later known as 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"), under the command of the SS-Gruppenführer
Gruppenführer
Gruppenführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party, first created in 1925 as a senior rank of the SA.-SS rank:...
Paul Hausser
Paul Hausser
Paul "Papa" Hausser was an officer in the German Army, achieving the high rank of lieutenant-general in the inter-war Reichswehr. After retirement from the regular Army he became the "father" of the Waffen-SS and one of its most eminent leaders...
, Harmel took part in fights near Jelna. For this action, Harmel was awarded the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in gold on the November 29, 1941.
On December 4, 1941, Harmel took command of SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Deutschland", whose commander, SS-Oberführer Wilhelm Bittrich, replaced SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser as divisional commander when he was seriously wounded. Harmel officially became commander of the SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Deutschland" on June 18, 1942. He was promoted to the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer, lieutenant colonel, on October 20, 1942. During the winter of 1942-1943, Harmel struggled with his men near Rzhev-Oskol, with courage and selflessness. Harmel participated in the capture of Kharkov on March 15, 1943. He distinguished himself by attacking with his regiment at night. To honor these heroic actions, Heinz Harmel received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on March 31, 1943. He also received the Tank Destruction Badge
Tank Destruction Badge
The Tank Destruction Badge was an award given to individuals of the Wehrmacht who destroyed an enemy tank single-handedly by an hand-held weapon. Anti-tank units were not eligible for this award...
. This badge was instituted by Adolf Hitler on March 9, 1942 to honor individuals who single-handedly destroyed an enemy tank with hand held explosives. On April 20, 1943, Harmel was promoted to the rank of SS-Standartenführer
Standartenführer
Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
. On September 7, 1943, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
and the Close Combat Clasp
Close Combat Clasp
The Close Combat Clasp is a German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for achievement in hand to hand fighting in close quarters. The Close Combat Clasp was worn above the upper left uniform pocket...
in silver.
From March 1944 to April 1944, SS-Standartenführer Harmel followed a training for divisional commanders at Hirschberg
Hirschberg
The German word Hirschberg is composed of Hirsch and Berg . It may refer to:* several places in Europe, including:** Hirschberg, Thuringia, Germany.** Hirschberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
. On April 1944, Heinz Harmel took command of the 10th SS Panzer Division "Frundsberg"
10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg
The 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg or 10.SS-Panzer-Division Frundsberg was a German Waffen SS panzer division. The division was formed at the beginning of 1943 as a reserve for the expected Allied invasion of France. However, their first campaign was in the Ukraine in April 1944...
and on May 18, 1944, Harmel was promoted to the SS-Oberführer. On September 9, 1944, Harmel was promoted to the rank of SS-Brigadeführer
Brigadeführer
SS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
. At 38-years-old, Harmel was respectfully called "Der Alte" (The Old) by his men, who were often themselves teenagers. The 10th SS Panzer Division "Frundsberg" theoretically accounted 19,513 men, but it was already greatly reduced by the fighting and never reached this count.
During the summer 1944, the division moved from the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
to the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
, in Normandy. Harmel had been ordered to break the enemy's lines, to free the German units, trapped at Falaise Pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
. On August 1944, approximately 125,000 German soldiers of the 7th Army was encircled. The operation ended with heavy losses and serious damage. Harmel was then sent to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He fought for the defense of the Reich against the Allied offensive (Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
). He distinguished himself again during the battle. After the fights around Nijmegen, Harmel received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on December 15, 1944. His division was then transferred to Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, where Harmel was ordered to establish a bridgehead to join the Colmar Pocket
Colmar Pocket
The Colmar Pocket ; in Alsace, France, was the site of an operation during the Second World War, between 20 January and 9 February 1945, where the French First Army and the U.S...
. After the failure of the December 1944/January 1945 offensive in Alsace, Harmel's division was transferred to the eastern front, initially fighting in Pommerania and Brandenburg to hold the Oder Front. The division was subsequently transferred to Heeresgruppe Mitte where in late April it was ordered to counterattack the forces of Marshal Konev. Obeying such orders would have resulted in the guaranteed destruction of the division - Harmel refused. Called before Generalfeldmarschal Schoerner, he was dismissed from command of the "Frundsberg" division. SS-Brigadeführer Harmel ended the war on May 1945, commanding an ad hoc battle group formed around the 24th SS Karstjager division, the SS Officer's School at Graz, Austria and other smaller units. The battle group's mission was to secure the mountain passes along the Austrian - Slovenia border to provide a secure retreat route for German forces fleeing Yugoslavia. Harmel's command was one of the last to surrender and did so to the British forces in Austria.
Post-World War II
Harmel was a prisoner of war in the United Kingdom for 2 years. Upon his release, he returned to Germany and worked as a sales representative. Forty years after the Battle of Normandy, Heinz Harmel received a commemorative medal in BayeuxBayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
. Heinz Harmel was one of the most decorated officer of the Waffen-SS during World War II. Heinz Harmel died in Krefeld
Krefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
, on September 2, 2000.
In the 1977 movie A Bridge Too Far
A Bridge Too Far
A Bridge Too Far is a 1977 epic war film based on the 1974 book of the same name by Cornelius Ryan, adapted by William Goldman. It was produced by Joseph E. Levine and Richard P...
, German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
actor Hardy Kruger
Hardy Krüger
Hardy Krüger is a German actor. He is thought of as one of the greatest German actors of the 1960s. He was born in Wedding, Berlin, German Reich...
portrays a character named SS-Brigadeführer Ludwig, which based on Heinz Harmel and Walter Harzer. Harmel did not want his name to be mentioned in the movie.
Awards
- Sudetenland MedalSudetenland MedalThe The Sudetenland Commemorative Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded in the interwar period.-Description:...
with Prague Castle Bar - Memel MedalMemel MedalThe Return of Memel Commemorative Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded in the interwar period, and the last of the series of Occupation Medals.-Description:...
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class (30 May 1940)
- 1st Class (1 June 1940)
- Infantry Assault BadgeInfantry Assault BadgeThe Infantry Assault Badge was a German war badge awarded to Waffen SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during WWII. This decoration was instituted on December 20th 1939 by the Oberstbefehlshaber des Heeres, Generalfeldmarschall von Brauchitsch...
in Silver (4 December 1940) - Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
(1939)- in Black (21 March 1943)
- Close Combat ClaspClose Combat ClaspThe Close Combat Clasp is a German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for achievement in hand to hand fighting in close quarters. The Close Combat Clasp was worn above the upper left uniform pocket...
- in Bronze
- in Silver (10 September 1943)
- Eastern Front MedalEastern Front MedalThe Eastern Front Medal, , more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on May 26, 1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front during the period November 15, 1941 to April 15, 1942...
(15 August 1942) - Tank Destruction Badge for Individual CombatantsTank Destruction BadgeThe Tank Destruction Badge was an award given to individuals of the Wehrmacht who destroyed an enemy tank single-handedly by an hand-held weapon. Anti-tank units were not eligible for this award...
(31 March 1943) - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (29 November 1941) - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and SwordsKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 31 March 1943 as ObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
and commander of SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 3 "Deutschland" - 296th Oak Leaves on 7 September 1943 as StandartenführerStandartenführerStandartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
and commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland" - 116th Swords on 15 November 1944 as BrigadeführerBrigadeführerSS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
and Generalmajor der Waffen SS and commander of 10.SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg"
- Knight's Cross on 31 March 1943 as Obersturmbannführer
- Mentioned in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
(16 July 1944)
External links
- Biography of Heinz Harmel on ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de