Behnke, Heinz

Date of birth:: October 1st, 1919 (Breslau/Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:: February 17th, 2002 (Bonn/Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Heinz Behnke reached the rank of Oberleutnant der Reserve. He joined the Bundeswehr in 1956 and retired in 1979 as an Oberst im Generalstab.

Promotions:
August 1st, 1941: Gefreiten;
December 1st, 1941: Oberjäger;
September 1st, 1942: Feldwebel;
September 26th, 1942: Leutnant der Reserve;
November 9th, 1944: Oberleutnant der Reserve;
November 2nd, 1956: Hauptmann (Bundeswehr);
April 1st, 1959: Major;
October 13th, 1965: Oberstleutnant im Generalstab;
October 1st, 1971: Oberst im Generalstab.

Career:
September 1st, 1939 - September 30th, 1939: Bau-Bataillon 106;
December 1st, 1939: Infanterie-Panzer-Abwehr-Ersatz-Kompanie 28;
August 1st, 1941: 14. Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 49;
November 29th, 1941: 16. Kompanie / Jäger-Regiment 49;
April 1st, 1942- September 30th, 1942: 10. Offiziers-Anwärter-Lehrgang, Infanterieschule Dresden;
January 1st, 1943: 14. (Panzerjäger) Kompanie / Grenadier-Regimen 668;
?: Lazarett Schmalkalden;
February 8th, 1944: 14. Kompanie / Grenadier-Regiment 994;
May 8th, 1944: Führer 3. Kompanie / Grenadier-Regiment 994;
November 14th, 1944: 14. Kompanie / Grenadier-Regiments 993;
April 17th, 1945: Lazarett Meran/South Tirol;
?: Reserve-Lazarett Herborn;
November 2nd, 1956: 3. Truppenlehrgang, Panzerabwehrschule Bremen-Grohn;
February 1st, 1957: Hörsaalleiter;
February 27th, 1957 Lehrgang für Stabs- und Versorgungskompanien;
July 7th, 1958 - August 31st, 1958: 2. Aufbau-Lehrgang, Heeresoffizierschule Hannover;
June 1st, 1959: Schüleretat, Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr;
October 1st, 1959 - December 31st, 1959: 3. Generalstabs-Lehrgang;
January 1st, 1961: G4, Panzer-Brigade 33;
October 4th, 1961 - October 11th, 1961: Stabs-Offiziers-Lehrgang, ABC-Abwehr-Schule;
October 1st, 1962: Hilfsreferent, Führungshauptamt des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung;
October 1st, 1963: G3 FüTr, Truppenamt;
January 1st, 1965: Hilfsreferent BMVg FüH;
March 1st, 1966 - March 3rd, 1966: 1. Wiederholungs-Lehrgang, Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr;
February 29th, 1968 - March 22nd, 1968: Lehrgang für Modern Weapons and Tactics in Fort Bliss (USA);
October 1st, 1968: G3, Stab ÜbBw, Bensberg;
November 11th, 1969 - December 19th, 1969: 11. Lehrgang, Gesamtstreitkräfte, Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr;
April 1st, 1971: Referent, BMVg FüH;
June 5th, 1972 - June 9th, 1972: Lehrgang für Management Fortbildung, ABG Ottobrunn;
October 1st, 1972: Leiter Mil. Mitarbeiter Grp Zentrale Operation Research;
February 1st, 1975: Studienleiter Amt StudÜbBw;
March 31st, 1979: Retirement.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: April 13th, 1942

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: November 26th, 1943

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Zugführer 14. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 668, 360. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: January 20th, 1944

On the morning of the 31.10.1943 the Soviets launched an attack with far superior forces against the 370. Infanterie-Division in its positions on the Nogaian Steppe. In this time Leutnant Behnke subordinated the remnants of an Infanterie-Bataillon to him and added their numbers to his own Zug. With this scratch force he managed to hold the village of Koltschakowka against strong Russian attacks until he himself was wounded by a shot through the pelvis in the late evening. During the night that followed he led his Kampfgruppe through the coverless Steppe back to Regiment while taking along all wounded soldiers.

The successful defense of this forward position enabled the 370. Infanterie-Division to complete its planned withdrawal movement in an orderly fashion and thereafter create a new defensive position along the Dnieper river. Behnke would later receive the Knight’s Cross in recognition of his actions here.