Heinrich Nickel

Heinrich Georg Nickel
Born	5 December 1894 Wesel
Died	2 January 1979(1979-01-02) (aged 84) Lingen
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914 – 1918 1935 – 1946
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	342nd Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Smolensk (1941) Siege of Leningrad Demyansk Pocket Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive Vistula–Oder Offensive Battle of the Seelow Heights Battle of Halbe
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Police Officer

Heinrich Georg Nickel (5 December 1894 – 2 January 1979) was a German general who commanded the 342nd Infantry Division during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Heinrich Nickel was captured by Allied troops in May 1945 and was released in 1948.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (29 July 1916)
  • 1st Class (18 August 1918)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Cross of Honor in 1934
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (19 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (13 November 1939)
• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
• Eastern Front Medal
• Demyansk Shield
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• German Cross in Gold (29 March 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 16 June 1940 as Oberst and commander of III./Infanterie-Regiment 26
  • 543rd Oak Leaves on 8 August 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 342. Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (30 April 1944 and 11 July 1944)

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2300-3.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Albrecht Baier	Commander of 342nd Infantry Division 25 September 1943 - 8 May 1945	Succeeded by None