Fritz Henke
| Fritz Henke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
21 June 1921 Oldendorf, Stade, Germany |
| Died |
15 November 1999 (aged 78) Moisburg, Germany |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1939–45 |
| Rank | Untersturmführer |
| Unit | 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Tank Destruction Badge Eastern Front Medal |
Fritz Henke (21 June 1921 – 15 November 1999) was a Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Henke was born on the 21 June 1921 in Oldendorf, in Lower Saxony. After school he had planned on being a Master craftsman, then on the 4 September 1939 he volunteered to join the SS.[1]
Henke was posted to the 2nd Reserve Company of the SS Regiment Germania stationed at Langenhorn, Hamburg where he received training as a basic infantryman.[1]
In May 1940 Henke started training as a Radio Operator and upon completion was posted to the Sturmgeschütz (StuG) Battery of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment and participated in Operation Marita the Balkans Campaign.[1]
In 1942, for his actions in fighting around Zhytomyr, Henke was awarded the Knight's Cross and promoted to Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant). He was given command of a platoon in the 3rd Battery, 1st SS Sturmgeschütz Battalion.[1]
In September 1943 he was sent to the SS officers training school and promoted to Untersturmführer. He was wounded on 20 April 1945, just prior to surrendering to the Allies.[1]
Henke died on 15 November 1999 and is buried at Moisburg.[2]
References
Citations
- 1 2 3 4 5 "waffen.ss".
- ↑ "feldgrau".
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Krätschmer, Ernst-Günther (1999). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-SS [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Waffen-SS]. Coburg, Germany: Nation Europa Verlag. ISBN 978-3-920677-43-9.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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