Gotthard Heinrici
| Gotthard Heinrici | |
|---|---|
Gotthard Heinrici
|
|
| Born |
25 December 1886 Gumbinnen, East Prussia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire now Gusev, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russian Federation |
| Died | 10 December 1971 (aged 84) Endersbach, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
|
| Years of service | 1905–45 |
| Rank | Generaloberst |
| Commands held |
4th Army 1st Panzer Army Army Group Vistula |
| Battles/wars |
See battles
|
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
| Relations |
Georg Heinrici (uncle) Gerd von Rundstedt (cousin) |
Gotthard Heinrici (25 December 1886 – 10 December 1971) was a general in the German Army during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. He was the commander-in-chief of the Army Group Vistula, remnants of Army Group Centre, in front of Berlin in April 1945.
Heinrici was born in 1886 in East Prussia, the son of a minister of the (Protestant) Evangelical Church in Germany. Following graduation from secondary school in 1905, he joined the army on 8 March 1905 as a cadet in an infantry division. From 1905 to 1906, Heinrici attended a war school. During World War I, Heinrici fought in the German invasion of Belgium and earned the Iron Cross 2nd Class in September 1914. Heinrici's division was then transferred to the Eastern Front. There, he fought in the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes and the Battle of Łódź, receiving the Iron Cross 1st Class in July 1915.
In May 1916, Heinrici took part in the Battle of Verdun. Beginning in September 1916, he served in General Staff positions with the XXIV Reserve Corps and the 115th Infantry Division. In March 1917, Heinrici was posted to the German General Staff. In September, he attended a General Staffs officer training course, and later served as a staff officer with VII Corps and the VIII Corps. In February 1918, Heinrici was posted to an infantry division, serving as a staff officer responsible for operations. In this position, he was awarded the Prussian Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords in August 1918.
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