Date of birth:

November 3rd, 1914 (Kiel/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)

Date of death:

October 27th, 2007 (Oelixdorf/Schleswig-Holstein,Germany)

Service number:

291 007 (SS. Nr.)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
June 1st, 1939: SS-Standarten-Junker;
September 1st, 1939: SS-Standarten-Oberjunker;
November 9th, 1939: SS-Untersturmführer;
November 9th, 1940: SS-Obersturmführer;
November 9th, 1941: SS-Hauptsturführer;
June 21st, 1943: SS-Sturmbannführer;

Career:
1931: Gymnasium, Meldorf;
October 1st, 1932: Ausbildung Maurer;
1932: Führer des Jungvolk-Fähnleins „Nord", Hitlerjugend;
1934: Bauingenieur, Staasbauschule Eckernförde
November 1st, 1937: Schütze 3. / SS-"Germania";
1934: Sturm 9, 50. SS Standarte;
April 3rd, 1937: Reichsarbeitsdienst, Flensburg;
November 1st, 1937: SS-Verfügungstruppe, Sturm 3, SS-Standarte 2 „Germania";
May 4th, 1938: lMG-Schütze, Sturm 11. / SS-Standarte 3 "Der Führer";
November 15th, 1938: 7. Friedensjunkerlehrgang, Junkerschule Tölz;
August 16th, 1939: Zugführerlehrgang Dachau;
October 23rd, 1939: Zugführer Sturm 2, Leibstandarte SS-"Adolf Hitler";
1939: Zugführer, Sturmbann I, SS-Infanterie-Regiment LSSAH;
September 1st, 1940: Adjutant, I. Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment LSSAH;
August 8th, 1941: Führer, 3. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment LSSAH;
1941: IIa, SS-Infanterie-Regiment LSSAH;
June 1st, 1942: Chef, 1. Kompanie, SS-Division (motorisiert) LSSAH;
March 20th, 1943: SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon I (Berlin)
October 1st, 1943: IIa Adjutant, 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend";
May 11th, 1944: Stab, Reichsführer-SS;
June 1st, 1944: Verbindungsoffizier Waffen-SS, Wehrmachtsführungsstab, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht;
August 30th, 1944: Erster Ordonnanzoffizier (O1), Heeresgruppe B;
February 6th, 1945: O1, Heeresgruppe Weichsel;
May 27th, 1945: British POW;
September 1st, 1948: Hochbau-Ingenieur, Kiel;
November 15th, 1952: Bauingenieur, Itzehoe;
December 1977: Technischer Angestellter, Schleswig-Holstein.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 2nd, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 2. Sturm, I. Sturmbann, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

November 9th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 1. Sturm, I. Sturmbann, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

June 8th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 3rd, 1940

Bronze version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Adjutant, I. Bataillon, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, 3. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

November 26th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, 3. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

January 12th, 1942

Heinrich Springer was a captain and commander commander in the LSSAH during the first battle of Rostov in late 1941. His company, with attached pioneers and signals men, was ordered to infiltrate the city in captured Russian uniforms and capture the railway bridge over the Don intact. With this they entered the city on the 20th, and managed to navigate the mayhem until they reached the bridge itself that evening. Springer ordered his men to open fire on a Russian locomotive that was coming out of the city towards the bridge and brought it to a halt. In the ensuring confusion, his men dashed across the bridge. The pioneers cut the detcords and his company overpowered the Russian guards, establishing a bridgehead on the far side (without suffering any losses!). His men were able to hold the bridgehead against increasing Russian pressure over the course of the night, all while being cut off from the rest of the division. Finally, on the morning of the next day, he was ordered to retreat from his bridgehead (exactly why is unknown). The Russians promptly destroyed the bridge once the Germans had left, and Springer was wounded the same day.

Nonetheless his actions at the bridge, though ultimately in vain, in themselves were impressive enough and Springer was given the Knight’s Cross while in the hospital.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 3rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Christian Habisohn
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Pub Ltd, 2008.
  - Personalakte
  - Mooney, P., Dietrich’s Warriors – The History of the 3. Kompanie/1st Panzergrenadier Regiment 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 2004
  - Heinrich-Springer.de
  - Axis Biographical Research
  - Heinrich Springer - Stationen eines Lebens in Krieg und Frieden - Zeitgeschichtliches Zeugnis des SS Sturmbannführers und Ritterkreuzträger der Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Wehrmacht1945.de