Birnbacher, Heinz
- Date of birth:
- May 26th, 1910 (Villach/Kärnten, Austria)
- Date of death:
- December 5th, 1991 (Villach/Kärnten, Austria)
- Nationality:
- Austrian (1938-1945, Reichsgau)
Biography
Promotions:
Kriegsmarine
09-10-1930 – Seekadett
01-04-1931 – Gefreiter
01-01-1932 – Fähnrich zur See
01-04-1934 – Oberfähnrich zur See
01-10-1934 – Leutnant zur See
01-06-1936 – Oberleutnant zur See
01-04-1939 – Kapitänleutnant
01-04-1943 – Korvettenkapitän
Bundesmarine
16-08-1956 – Fregattenkapitän
18-09-1960 – Kapitän zur See
07-08-1963 – Flottillenadmiral
02-10-1968 – Konteradmiral
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Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant zur See
- Awarded on:
- September 20th, 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant zur See
- Awarded on:
- December 20th, 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Kapitänleutnant (Luitenant ter Zee 2e Klasse)
- Unit:
- Flottillenchef, 1. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
- Awarded on:
- April 9th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Kapitänleutnant (Luitenant ter Zee 2e Klasse)
- Unit:
- Flottillenchef, 1. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
- Awarded on:
- April 20th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Flottillenchef, 1. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
- Awarded on:
- May 15th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Flottillenchef, 1. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
- Awarded on:
- June 17th, 1940
“The Führer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht has awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to Kapitänleutnant Birnbacher, commander of a Schnellbootsflottille, at the recommendation of the Supreme Commander of the Kriegsmarine, Großadmiral Dr.h.c. Raeder.
Kapitänleutnant Heinz Birnbacher has distinguished himself as the commander of a Schnellbootsflottille during the fighting near Norway and the English coastline by leading his formation with tactical skill and boldness despite his youth. His example and daredevilry inspires both his captains and crews alike. During the Norwegian Operation he led his formation during the capture of Bergen and the battles in the fjords, sinking a Norwegian torpedo boat and scattering convoys of tankers and troop transports. Over the course of six out of seven sallies against the English fleet his Flottille sank 4 enemy destroyers under the most difficult of circumstances, one of which was sunk by his own command boat.”
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Flottillenchef, 1. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
- Awarded on:
- December 16th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Flottillenchef, 1. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
- Awarded on:
- March 9th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Kapitänleutnant (Luitenant ter Zee 2e Klasse)
- Unit:
- Flottillenchef, 1. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
- Awarded on:
- November 10th, 1942
Vapaudenristin 3.luokka (VR 3)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Flottillenchef, 1. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
- Awarded on:
- November 4th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
- Unit:
- I.O. Zerstörer Z 23, Kriegsmarine
- Awarded on:
- April 27th, 1943
Sources
- Photo 1: Willi Schumacher
- - DÖRR, MANFRED, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehmacht 1939–1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1995.
- FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Deutsches Marinearchiv
Photo
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