| Heinrich Gottke | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 July 1921 Flensburg, Germany |
| Died | 12 August 1998 (aged 77) Wolfsburg, Germany |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Waffen SS Bundeswehr |
| Years of service | 1931–1945 1959–1969 |
| Rank | Oberscharführer |
| Unit | 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Wound Badge Eastern Front Medal |
Heinrich Gottke was a Oberscharführer 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. He later served in the new German Army the Bundeswehr.
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Heinrich Gottke was born on the 7 July 1921, in Flensburg, Germany.[1][2]
During World War II he volunteered to join the Waffen SS and in April 1940, he was assigned to the Training and Replacement Battalion of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment.[2]
After completing basic training in August 1940, he was posted to the 6th (Flak) Battery, Company, II Battalion, LSSAH Artillery Regiment. He remained with the Leibstandarte during the invasion of the Balkans (Operation Marita) and the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), when he was awarded the Iron Cross II class in July 1941.[1] In March 1942 to August 1942, he was stationed with the SS Flak Reserve Regiment in Arolsen until September 1942, when he was posted to the Headquarters Battery of the 3rd SS Flak Battalion, 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf, under the command of Otto Kron.[2]
In June 1943 he was again posted to the SS Flak Training and Reserve Battalion now stationed in Munich until December 1943 when he was posted to the newly formed 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen as a Forward Observer in the Flak Battalion.[2]
He was awarded the Knight's Cross for his bravery in action when acting as a Forward Observer on the 13 and 14 December 1944, after detecting Allied troops in Battalion strength supported by light tanks northwest and southeast of Point 355 and aware that this was a key point, he directed fire down onto the advancing forces which forced the attack back. During a second attack he directed fire onto his own position and during a third attack when he was forced to move to his secondary location he managed to direct fire onto the attacking force and again stopped the attack with artillery fire.[1][2][3]
Heinrich Gottke survived the war and in July 1958, he joined the new German Army the Bundeswehr. Serving in the first Territorial Defense Command until 1959 and then moved to the defense area command. This was followed by serving in the guard battalion at the Federal Ministry of Defense, where he was from 1964 the Envoy of the Federal Ministry of Defense and as a teaching officer in the Bundeswehr's medical center in Bonn. He retired September 30, 1975 as a Hauptmann, after a combind military service of 21 years.[2]
Heinrich Gottke died on the 12 August 1998, in Wolfsburg.[2][3]