View source for Heinz Werner (1917)

{{Infobox military person
|name=Heinz Werner 
|image=[[File:SS-Sturmbannführer Heinz Werner.jpg|250px]]
|caption=
|birth_date=2 December 1917
|death_date={{dda|1978|8|8|1917|12|2|df=y}}
|birth_place=[[Berlin]], [[Kingdom of Prussia]], [[German Empire]]
|death_place=[[Essen]], [[West Germany]]
|nickname=
|allegiance={{Flag|National Socialist Germany}}
|branch=[[Image:Flag Schutzstaffel.png|23px]] [[SS-VT]]<br> [[Image:Flag Schutzstaffel.png|23px]] [[Waffen SS]]
|serviceyears=1937&ndash;1945
|rank=[[SS-Sturmbannführer]]
|unit=[[2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich]]
|commands=
|battles=[[World War II]]
|awards=[[Knight's Cross|Knight's Cross with Oakleaves]]<br>[[German Cross|German Cross in Gold]]<br>[[Close Combat Clasp|Close Combat Clasp in Gold]]
|relations=
|laterwork= 
}}
'''Heinz Werner''' (b. 2 December 1917 in  in [[Berlin]]-Friedenau; d. 8 August 1978 in [[Essen]]) was a [[Germans|German]] officer of the SS and [[Waffen-SS]], at last [[SS-Sturmbannführer]] (Major) and recipient of the [[Knight's Cross|Knight's Cross with Oakleaves]] in [[World War II]]. 

==Life==
[[File:SS-Hauptsturmführer Heinz Werner.png|right|315px]]
[[File:Ernst Schweiger (links) und SS-Sturmbannführer Heinz Werner am 9. Mai 1945 bei der Kapitulation bei Rokitzan (Pilsner Region).jpg|thumb|305px|Ernst Schweiger (left) and SS-Sturmbannführer Heinz Werner on 9 May 1945 in [[Bohemia]] preparing to surrender to the [[US-Americans]].]] 
Werner, son of a wealthy factory, served, after his ''Abitur'' at the [[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]], his mandatory time with the [[Reichsarbeitsdient]] ([https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Reichsarbeitsdienst RAD]) and joined the SS 1937, serving in the SS-Standarte Germania of the [[SS-Verfügungstruppe]] (SS-Nr.: 351.243). His first deployments were to [[Austria]] and to the [[Sudetenland]]. From November 1938 until Oktober 1939, he was commanded to a SS-Junkerschule to become an officer. 

===WWII===
In [[WWII]] he was wounded many times, at least once very severly, has the left side of his face was ripped open by shrapnel.

The Knight's Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by National socialist Germany during World War II. The Oakleaves was a second award, presented by [[SS-Oberstgruppenführer]] [[Sepp Dietrich]]. The date is taken from the announcement made by the [[6th Panzer Army|6. SS-Panzerarmee]]. 

The sequential number "864" was assigned by the [[Association of Knight's Cross Recipients]] (AKCR). Werner was awarded his Knight's Cross while in command of the 3rd Battalion, 4th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment ''The Führer'', [[2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich]].

===After the war===
Werner survived the war as a prisoner of the French Government (illegally handed over by the US-Americans 1947), released in June 1951. He was a member of the [[AKCR]].<ref>Scherzer 2007, p. 184.</ref>

==Death==
Werner died on the 8 August 1978 in Essen.
==SS-Promotions==
===SS===
*    1937: SS-Schütze
*    1937: SS-Junker
*    1938: SS-Oberjunker
*    9. November 1939: [[SS-Untersturmführer]]
===Waffen-SS===
*    21. Juni 1941: [[SS-Obersturmführer]]
*    20. April 1943: [[SS-Hauptsturmführer]]
*    9. November 1944: [[SS-Sturmbannführer]]

==Awards and decorations==

*[[SS-Ehrendegen]]
* [[Anschluss Medal]] ([https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Medaille_zur_Erinnerung_an_den_13._M%C3%A4rz_1938 ''Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938''])
* [[Sudetenland Medal]] with the Prague Castle Bar ([https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Medaille_zur_Erinnerung_an_den_1._Oktober_1938 ''Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit Spange „Prager Burg“''])
* [[Iron Cross]] (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
** 2nd Class on 28 May 1940
** 1st Class on 22 October 1941
* Infantry Assault Badge (''[https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen]'') in Silver 
* [[Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal]] 
* Panzer Badge ([https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Panzerkampfabzeichen_des_Heeres ''Panzerkampfabzeichen des Heeres'']) in Bronze
* [[Wound Badge]] ([https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Verwundetenabzeichen_(1939) ''Verwundetenabzeichen 1939'']) in Black, Silver and Gold
*[[Close Combat Badge]] (''Nahkampfspange des Heeres'') in Bronze, Silver and Gold
**Bronze in Summer 1943
** Silver on 9 November 1943
** Gold in April 1945
* [[German Cross]] in Gold on 29 May 1943 as SS-Obersturmführer and commander (''Chef'') of the 10. Kompanie/III. Bataillon (motorisiert)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4 „Der Führer“/SS-Panzergrenadier-Division „Das Reich“
* [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] 
**Knight's Cross  on 14 May 1941 as SS-Hauptsturmführer and chief of the 2./SS-Kradschützen-Bataillon/SS-Division "Reich"/XXXXI. Armeekorps/12. Armee{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=448}}
** Oak Leaves on 6 May 1945 (864th award) as SS-Sturmbannführer and commander (''Kommandeur'') of the III. (gepanzerten) Bataillons/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4 „Der Führer“/[[SS-Panzergrenadier-Division „Das Reich“]]

==See also==
* [[Brandenburgers]]

==Further reading==
* Berger, Florian. ''Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold''. Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2004. ISBN 3-9501307-3-X. {{de icon}}
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. ''Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945''.  Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5. {{de icon}}
* 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.
==References==

{{reflist|2}}

{{KCwithGoldenCCC}}

[[Categoryxxx]]
[[Categoryxxx]]
[[Category:People from Berlin]]
[[Category:SS officers]]
[[Category:Waffen-SS personnel]]
[[Category:military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sword of Honour of the Reichsführer-SS]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Iron Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Close Combat Clasp]]
[[Category:Recipients of the German Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]

[[de:Werner, Heinz (1917)]]