Nicolaus Heilmann
Encyclopedia
Nikolaus Heilmann was a Brigadeführer
in the Waffen SS during World War II
. Who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
during World War II
.
, Hessen. After he graduated from school he joined the police force in 1925 and eventually was a teacher of tactics in the police academy in Berlin
.
, Luxembourg
and France
under the command of his friend Karl Pfeffer-Wildenbruch
, who did recommend him at this stage for the Knight's Cross, but it was turned down by Heinrich Himmler
on the grounds that he was not a good leader.
He did get awarded the German Cross
in Gold in August 1942. In June 1943, he was promoted to Standartenführer
and appointed Chief of Staff
to the IV SS Panzer Corps
whose entire staff was transferred to the VI SS Army Corps
when he found himself again under the command of Karl Pfeffer-Wildenbruch.
He remained on the Army staff until February 1944 when he was given command of the 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian) and also promoted to Oberführer
. He commanded the 15th SS until July 1944 when he had some of the men under his command shot for losing the weapons.
He was transferred to command the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of SS in August 1944, when he is wounded and also awarded the Knight's Cross. He returned to command the 15th SS in January 1945, after he had recovered from his wounds. He was killed in action leading the division on the 30 January 1945 and posthumously promoted to the rank of Brigadeführer
.
Brigadeführer
SS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Nikolaus Heilmann (was born on the 20 April 1903, in SchlüchternSchlüchtern
Schlüchtern is a town in the Main-Kinzig district, in Hessen, Germany. It is located on the river Kinzig at the southwest of a hill called Landrücken, approx. 30 km southwest of Fulda.-History:...
, Hessen. After he graduated from school he joined the police force in 1925 and eventually was a teacher of tactics in the police academy in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
World War II
In May 1939 he joined the SS (SS service number 327324) and at the start of World War II, he was posted to the 4th SS Polizei Division and served in the early campaigns in BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
and France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
under the command of his friend Karl Pfeffer-Wildenbruch
Karl Pfeffer-Wildenbruch
Karl Pfeffer Wildenbruch was a staff officer of the German General Staff during World War I and a Obergruppenführer General der Waffen-SS und der Polizei, during World War II, he commanded the 4th SS Polizei Division and the VI SS Army Corps and the IX SS Mountain Corps, he was awarded the...
, who did recommend him at this stage for the Knight's Cross, but it was turned down by Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler was Reichsführer of the SS, a military commander, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. As Chief of the German Police and the Minister of the Interior from 1943, Himmler oversaw all internal and external police and security forces, including the Gestapo...
on the grounds that he was not a good leader.
He did get awarded the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold in August 1942. In June 1943, he was promoted to Standartenführer
Standartenführer
Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
and appointed Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to the IV SS Panzer Corps
IV SS Panzer Corps
The IV.SS-Panzerkorps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on the Eastern Front and in the Balkans during World War II.The Panzerkorps was formed in August, 1943 in Poitiers, France...
whose entire staff was transferred to the VI SS Army Corps
VI SS Army Corps
VI SS Army Corps or VI. SS-Freiwilligen-Armeekorps was a unit of the Waffen SS during World War II. It was formed in October 1943, to command the Latvian Waffen SS divisions. It fought in the northern sector of the Eastern Front as part of the 18th Army...
when he found himself again under the command of Karl Pfeffer-Wildenbruch.
He remained on the Army staff until February 1944 when he was given command of the 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian) and also promoted to Oberführer
Oberführer
Oberführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party dating back to 1921. Translated as “Senior Leader”, an Oberführer was typically a Nazi Party member in charge of a group of paramilitary units in a particular geographical region...
. He commanded the 15th SS until July 1944 when he had some of the men under his command shot for losing the weapons.
He was transferred to command the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of SS in August 1944, when he is wounded and also awarded the Knight's Cross. He returned to command the 15th SS in January 1945, after he had recovered from his wounds. He was killed in action leading the division on the 30 January 1945 and posthumously promoted to the rank of Brigadeführer
Brigadeführer
SS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
.