Heinrich Schweickhardt

Heinrich Schweickhardt
Born	17 February 1914 Heidelberg, Germany
Died	9 January 1943 (aged 28) Missing in action over the Mediterranean Sea
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1935–43
Rank	Major (Posthumously)
Unit	Kampfgeschwader 76
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Battle of Moscow North African Campaign
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Heinrich Schweickhardt (17 February 1914 – 9 January 1943) was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. On 9 January 1943, Heinrich Schweickhardt failed to return from a mission and was listed as missing in action over the Mediterranean Sea. He was posthumously promoted to Major.

Awards and decorations

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (22 September 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (12 July 1940)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold as 13 January 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 8./Kampfgeschwader 76^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 4 February 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./Kampfgeschwader 76^[3]
  • 138th Oak Leaves on 30 October 1942 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 8./Kampfgeschwader 76^[4]

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1998, p. 307.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 436.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 321.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 56.

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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• 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.
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht