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352 Veterans
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Leutnant Hans Heinze
Lt. Heinze originally served with Jägerregiment 54, 100 Jäger Division seeing his first action at Kharkov. Heinze then found himself in the hell of Stalingrad but was flown out wounded on 30 December 1942. After a long recovery period, Heinze was posted to the newly formed 352 Infanterie Division as Ordnance Officer of II Bataillon, GR 916 at St.Lo in Normandy.
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Heinze helped train up new recruits and he and his fellow “Ostkampfer” passed on their combat experience during this period.
Heinze saw the invasion fleet from his OP near Colleville at about 5am on 6th June 1944. At 11am, Heinze was ordered to take command of 5. Kompanie as Oberleutnant Hahn the Kompanieführer, had been badly wounded. Heinze was 21 years old.
At 13.00 Heinze led a counterattack towards WN62B near Colleville and pushed the troops from the US 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions out.
Heinze led his combat group for several weeks always fighting delaying actions and giving up ground slowly. Finally, the remnants of 352 ID fell back to St. Lo and here Heinze was badly wounded whilst attempting to knock out a Sherman with a Panzerfaust.
After the war Heinze became a pharmacist and his son continues to run the family business in Eckernforde today.
Note Lt Heinze is still wearing his old Jäger uniform - mountain trousers and boots, and Jäger arm patch on right arm.
(Copyright H. Heinze)
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5. Kompanie Spiess (name not known), Oberleutnant Hahn (seriously wouinded on the morning of 6th June) and 5. Kompaniechef Leutnant Hans Heinze, ordnance officer GR919.
(Copyright H. Heinze)
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Leutnant Ruhne (Adjutant II. Bataillon), Stabsärtz Bahr (Bataillon doctor) and Leutnant Hans Heinze (Ordnance officer II. Bataillon) before the invasion.
(Copyright H. Heinze)
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Leutnant Heinze & Leutnant Ruhne horseriding before the invasion.
(Copyright H. Heinze)
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