Heinz Harmel
GermanyHeinz Harmel - Biography
Heinz Harmel, a German Waffen-SS officer and a recipient of numerous awards, was born on June 29, 1906, in the family of a staff sergeant of the 4th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment. In 1926, he volunteered for the Reichswehr and joined the 15th Company of the 6th Infantry Regiment in Ratzenburg. He left the army as a lance corporal in 1928. In 1931, he became the head of the Employment Search Service at Varteland and later an instructor at the "Reichskuratoriums für Jugendertüchtigung" sports school. On October 1, 1934, he was authorized as the chief of "A.W." (Ausbildung), which united 250 sports schools. In the summer of 1935, Harmel returned to the "Ratzenburger Jägern" as a reserve Oberfeldwebel. On October 2, 1935, he received the rank of Obersturmführer SS in the 1st Company "Germany" in Hamburg-Fettel. From January 1, 1937, he served as an Untersturmführer SS, commanding a platoon in the 7th Company of the SS regiment "Deutschland" in Munich. On January 30, 1938, Harmel was promoted to the rank of Obersturmführer SS.
After participating in the annexation of Austria in March 1938 (in Klagenfurt), he was appointed as the commander of the 9th Company of the SS regiment "Der Führer." From January 30, 1939, he held the rank of Hauptsturmführer SS, and from January 1, 1941, he became the commander of II/"Der Führer." In April 1941, he distinguished himself in the battles for Belgrade and received the rank of Sturmbannführer SS. Subsequently, he became the commander of the SS regiment "Deutschland" and sequentially achieved the ranks of Obersturmbannführer SS, Standartenführer SS, Oberführer SS, Brigadeführer SS, and Waffen-SS Brigadeführer. On April 27, 1944, he was appointed as the commander of the 10th SS Division. In May 1945, he found himself trapped in Carinthia's villas but surrendered to the British only in mid-June 1945. After returning from captivity, Harmel worked as a sales representative. He passed away on September 2, 2000, in Krefeld.
Reichsführer SS Himmler disliked Harmel due to his permission for one of his men to marry a French prostitute. Himmler even wanted to demote Harmel and send him to a disciplinary battalion, but the intervention of Paul Hausser saved Harmel. Due to strained relations with "Reichshanni" (Himmler's derogatory nickname in the troops), Harmel received the Knight's Cross for Kharkov without any solemn ceremony. This story was recorded by Heinz Harmel himself and presented in the book "Kharkov. January-March 1943. The SS Tank Corps Counterattack" by French historian Georges Bernage.
Heinz Harmel also received several other awards throughout his military career, including the Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class and the Infantry Assault Badge for his actions in the Netherlands, Flanders, and breaking through the "Grebbe Line" in 1940. On November 29, 1941, he was awarded the German Gold Cross for personal bravery in battles near Elnya. In addition, he received the Eastern Medal on August 15, 1942, the Wound Badge on March 21, 1943, and the Oak Leaves and Swords to the Knight's Cross in 1943.
