Hans Hecker

Hans Hecker
Born	26 February 1895 Duisburg-Meiderich
Died	1 May 1979(1979-05-01) (aged 84) near Hannoversch Münden
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–1945
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	345. Infanterie-Division 3. Panzergrenadier-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow North African Campaign Battle of Gazala First Battle of El Alamein Second Battle of El Alamein Battle of Metz
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans Hecker (26 February 1895 – 1 May 1979) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Hans Hecker was captured by Allied troops in 1945 and was released in 1947.

Awards and decorations

Iron Cross (1914)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords (22 August 1918)
Wound Badge (1914)
- in Black
Cross of Honor
Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
General Assault Badge
Medaglia d'Argento al Valore Militare
Colonial Order of the Star of Italy
German Cross in Gold (19 September 1942)
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Knight's Cross on 5 August 1940 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Pionier-Battalion 29 (mot.)^[1]
Ärmelband Afrika

References

Citations

^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 180.

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

Military offices
Preceded by General der Panzertruppen Fritz-Hubert Gräser	Commander of 3. Panzergrenadier-Division March 1944 – 1 June 1944	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Hans-Günther von Rost

Persondata
Name	Hecker, Hans
Alternative names
Short description	German General and Knight's Cross recipient
Date of birth	26 February 1895
Place of birth	Duisburg-Meiderich, Germany
Date of death	1 May 1979
Place of death	Hannoversch Münden, Germany