Josef Heichele

Josef Heichele
Born	(1914-10-15)15 October 1914 Lauingen
Died	8 November 2001(2001-11-08) (aged 87) Füssen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1935–1945
Rank	Major
Commands held	Füselier-Battalion 129
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Barbarossa Battles of Rzhev Operation Bagration Bobruysk Offensive East Prussian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Police Officer

Josef Heichele (15 October 1914 – 8 November 2001) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht 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.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (15 August 1941)
  • 1st Class (6 November 1941)
• Wound Badge
  • in Black (?)
  • in Silver (?)
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Eastern Front Medal
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (?)
  • in Silver (?)
• 3 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
• German Cross in Gold (14 February 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 31 January 1944 as Hauptmann and leader of Divisions-Füselier-Battalion (A.A.) 129
  • 742nd Oak Leaves on 17 February 1945 as Major and commander of Füselier-Battalion 129

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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht