Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte

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Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte was a German Luftwaffe officer who served with the Fallschirmjäger during World War II, reaching the rank of oberstleutnant. After the war, he served in the Bundeswehr, reaching the rank of brigadegeneral der reserve.

[edit] Early life

Friedrich August von der Heydte was born into the nobility in Munich, Bavaria on 30 March 1907. von der Heydte's father, a Freiherr (roughly equivalent to a baron) had enjoyed a successful career with the Bavarian Army, serving with distinction during the First World War. The von der Heydtes were stout Roman Catholics, and Friedrich attended a Munich Catholic school, achieving excellent grades.

After completion of his schooling, Friedrich followed his father's path and joined the Reichswehr. After an unsuccessful application to join the cavalry, Friedrich was posted to Infanterie-Regiment Nr.19 on 1 April 1925. He did not give up on his goal of joining the cavalry, and soon secured a posting as an officer cadet in Kavallerie-Regiment Nr.18.

Soon after this, Friedrich was released from military service to attended Innsbruck University, studying Law. During this time, he became a private tutor to pay his university fees, as despite their noble status, his family was in dire financial troubles. In 1927, von der Heydte was awarded his degree in law, and travelled to Berlin to continue his studies. Late in the year, he secured a posting to a diplomatic school in Vienna. During his time at university, the young von der Heydte developed decidedly liberal views, and on his return to Germany, found himself at odds with popular opinion.

By 1934, von der Heydte had become involved in several brawls with pro-Nazi students, and only evaded the Gestapo by rejoining his old cavalry regiment. In 1935 he was transferred to Kavallerie-Regiment Nr.15 and promoted to leutnant. He again secured his temporary release from the military for study, and travelled to the Netherlands where he furthered his education at The Hague.

Late in 1935, his company of the regiment was transformed from a cavalry to an anti-tank company. After studying for over two years in The Hague, von der Heydte returned to the military, where he attended a General Staff Officer's course over the winter of 1938-39. In August 1939, he was recalled to his company in preparation for the planned Invasion of Poland, Fall Weiß.

[edit] War career

He commanded a paratroop battalion in Crete in 1941. His battalion was the first to enter Canea, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. After fighting in Russia, North Africa and Normandy, he was taken prisoner in 1944 during the Ardennes counter-offensive, the Battle of the Bulge.

[edit] Books

• Daedalus Returned (Hutchinson, 1958) - An account of the Battle of Crete.