Hecker, Hans

Date of birth:: February 26th, 1895 (Duisburg-Meidrich/Rhine Province, Germany)
Date of death:: May 1st, 1979 (Hannoversch Münden/Lower Saxony, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
August 2nd, 1914: Fahnenjunker;
May 1915: Fähnrich;
July 1st, 1917: Leutnant;
July 31st, 1925: Oberleutnant (Rangdienstalter April 1st, 1925);
April 1st, 1933: Hauptmann;
October 1st, 1936: Major;
December 1st, 1939: Oberstleutnant;
December 17th, 1941: Oberst;
June 1st, 1944: Generalmajor.

Career:
August 2nd, 1914: 1. Lothringisches Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 33;
1915: 1. Lothringisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 16;
1917: Adjutant Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 328;
1919: Exit Reichsheer;
January 1st, 1924: 1. / 6. (Preussisches) Pionier-Bataillon;
November 1st, 1924: 6. (Preussisches) Artillerie-Regiment;
1925: 6. (Preussisches) Pionier-Bataillon;
April 1st, 1929: Brückenkolonne;
April 1st, 1930: Offizier Kommandantur Marienburg;
October 1st, 1931: 1. (Preussisches) Pionier-Bataillon;
March 1st, 1932: Chef 3. / 1. (Preussisches) Pionier-Bataillon;
april 15th, 1934: Lehrer Infanterieschule Dresden;
January 1st, 1935: Lehrer Kriegsakademie Dresden;
January 1st, 1936: Inspektion der Pioniers (In 5), Reichsminiterium;
?: Inspektion 5, Oberkommando des Heeres;
November 10th, 1938 - November 1st, 1941: Kommandeur Pionier-Bataillon 29;
November 1st, 1941: Führerreserve;
January 15th, 1942: Pionierführer Panzergruppe Afrika;
January 30th, 1942: Pionierführer Panzerarmee Afrika;
1942 - December 1st, 1942: Pionierführer Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee;
December 1st, 1942: Führerreserve;
December 1942 - January 1943: 5. Divisionführer-Lehrgang;
February 11th, 1943: Kommandeur 345. Infanterie-Division;
?: Kommandeur 29. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert);
January 22nd, 1944 - April 11th, 1944: mit den Führung beauftragd 26. Panzer-Division;
March 1st, 1944 - March 1944: mit den Führung beauftragd 3. Panzergrenadier-Division;
June 25th, 1944: Kommandeur 3. Panzergrenadier-Division;
October 3rd, 1944: Führerreserve;
May 3rd, 1945 - 1947: POW.

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Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Chef, 4. Kompanie, Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 328, 28. Reserve-Division, Deutsches Heer
Awarded on:: August 22nd, 1918

With Swords.

Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern

Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer

Awarded on:: 1934

Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 2. Klasse, 18 Jahre

Rank:: Major
Unit:: Inspektion der Pioniers (In 5), Reichsminiterium
Awarded on:: October 2nd, 1936

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: Kommandeur, Pionier-Bataillon 29, 29. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer
Awarded on:: September 26th, 1939

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Pionier-Bataillon 29, 29. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer
Awarded on:: May 31st, 1940

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Pionier-Bataillon 29, 29. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer
Awarded on:: August 5th, 1940

Awarded for the outstanding command of his Bataillon during the Battle of France, and in particular for the following actions…

1) Installing a 16 ton bridge over the Aisne river near Barby under very difficult conditions while attached to the XIII. Armee-Korps (09.06.1940). This was one of only two bridges that were successfully completed over this river (out of a planned total of eight), and it was crucial in bringing the advance of Guderian’s Panzers back into motion.

2) On the 13.06.1940 the 29. Infanterie-Division (mot) was held up on the Marne and Rhine-Marne canal by tough French resistance. In this situation Oberstleutnant Hecker was once again able to help the advance to resume by throwing up a bridge near Bignicourt in an unexpectedly short time.

3) Creating another important bridge, this time over the Saône river at Pontailler, on the 16.06.1940. Despite strong French attempts at intervention and the lack of equipment, Hecker managed to quickly form a usable bridge with improvised means on this day and thus permit Guderian’s Gruppe to cross the river and reach Doubs (located on the Swiss border). Hecker thus had a decisive share in completing the encirclement of the French forces positioned along the Maginot Line.

(Allgemeines) Sturmabzeichen (ohne zahlen), I.Stufe

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Pionier-Bataillon 29, 29. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer
Awarded on:: June 11th, 1941

Silver version.

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Pionierführer, Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee, Heer
Awarded on:: August 8th, 1942

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Pionierführer, Panzerarmee Afrika, Heer
Awarded on:: September 19th, 1942

Deutsches Kreuz in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Pionierführer, Panzerarmee Afrika, Heer
Awarded on:: September 19th, 1942

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Awarded on:: June 2nd, 1944

Mentioning:
"In this section of the front have the 65. Infantry Division under Generalleutnant Pfeiffer, augmented by parts of the 4. Fallschirmjägerdivision which reinforced the 3. Panzergrenadierdivision under Generalmajor Hecker and units from the Army and the parachute troops assembled Kampfgruppe under Generalleutnant Greiner, well supported by artillery and anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe, particularly distinguished themselves."