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Heidrich, Richard

Date of birth:
July 28th, 1896 (Lawalde-Löbau/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
December 22nd, 1947 (Hamburg, Germany)
Nationality:
German

Biography

Finally reached the rank of General der Fallschirmtruppen.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 25th, 1941
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 25th, 1941
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 9th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3, 7. Flieger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
June 14th, 1941
Awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions during the Battle of Crete. In this time Heidrich and his men tied down strong Allied forces in the middle of the island and thereby created the possibility for the western group at Maleme to capture the airfield and consequently enable reinforcements to be flown in.

202nd Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3, 7. Flieger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
March 31st, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Award 3/32.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 24th, 1943
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-General)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
February 5th, 1944
Awarded for distinguishing himself along with his Division during the battle for Ortona.

382nd Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 25th, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-General)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
March 25th, 1944
Awarded for his actions during the early fighting at Monte Cassino. On the 15.03.1944 he succeeded in effectively concentrating friendly artillery fire onto Cassino itself, with the result that the Allied assembly areas for their upcoming attack were smashed.

55th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 29th, 1944
Wehrmachtbericht

Sources

Photo