Heinrich Kirchheim

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Heinrich Kirchheim
Heinrich Kirchheim II.jpg
Kirchheim was one of only 19 knights of the Order "Pour le Mérite" with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Birth date 6 April 1882(1882-04-06)
Place of birth Groß Salze, Kreis Calbe a./S., Regierungsbezirk Magdeburg, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Death date 14 December 1973 (aged 91)
Place of death Lüdenscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany[1]
Allegiance  German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 National Socialist Germany
Service/branch War and service flag of Prussia (1895–1918).png Prussian Army
Reichskolonialflagge.png Schutztruppe
Iron Cross of the Luftstreitkräfte.png Imperial German Army
Freikorps Flag.jpg Freikorps
War Ensign of Germany (1921–1933).png Reichswehr
Balkenkreuz.jpg Heer
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held Infanterie-Regiment 276
169. Infantry Division
Battles/wars Hottentot War
World War I
World War II
Awards Iron Cross
Pour le Mérite
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations ∞ 1926 Hildegard Schneider
Other work Businessman (1932–1934)

Heinrich Georg Kirchheim (6 April 1882 – 14 December 1973) was a German officer of the Prussian Army, the Schutztruppe, the Imperial German Army, the Freikorps, the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht, finally Lieutenant General of the Heer in World War II. He was captured by the Western Allies invading Germany in April 1945. He was released from captivity in the autumn of 1947.

Life

Heinrich Kirchheim.jpg
Heinrich Kirchheim in Tripoli, Lybia.jpg
Heinrich Kirchheim III.jpg

From Easter 1888 to 1889, Heinrich received private lessons at home. From 1889 to 1891, he attended elementary school in Groß Salze. From 1892, he attended the Realgymnasium in Schönebeck an der Elbe near Magdeburg and from Easter 1895 the Gymnasium in Magdeburg (learning French and English) where he achieved his Abitur. From March to April 1899, he attended the Dr. Fischer Military Preparatory Institute (Militär-Vorbereitungsanstalt) in Berlin. On 1 May 1899, like his older brother Ernst before him, he joined the Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande" (2. Westfälisches) Nr. 15 in which his father had also served as a battalion doctor for several years. On 27 May 1899, he was sworn-in. After basic training, regimental training and attending the war school, he was commissioned in October 1900 in the 6th Company of his regiment. From the end of 1903, he served as a company officer in the 7th Company of his regiment in Minden.

On 3 November 1904, he left the army and transferred to the Imperial Protection Force (Schutztruppe) for German Southwest Africa. There, he was assigned as a company officer to the IV. Battalion of the 2nd Field Regiment (Mounted). From 1904 to 1907, he saw action in the fighting against the Hottentot rebellion. From 21 December 1904 to 28 January 1905, he was treated for typhus at the Bethauien military hospital. On 11 March 1905, he participated in the Battle of Narudas Gorge. On 7 April 1905, he took part in the storming of the Namaqua settlement of Onams. On 5 June 1905, he participated in the Battle of Kareb. On 15 June 1905, he took part in the Battle of Narus. Just two days later, on 17 June 1905, he was also involved in the Battle of Narus. During the fighting with insurgent natives, Kirchheim earned the Royal Crown Order, 4th Class with Swords. On 12 November 1905, he was admitted to the Ramaustrift military hospital due to heart failure. On 25 December 1905, he was transported to Germany for a spa treatment. His recovery was completed on 1 June 1906. From 1 January to 1 August 1907, he was assigned to Machine Gun Battalion No. 1. In 1908, he participated in the Kalahari Expedition under Captain Johannes Felix Friedrich von Erckert, which aimed to defeat the last Nama insurgents. On 16 March 1908, he saw action in the Battle of Seatsub where von Erckert wa ⚔. From 14 to 19 May 1908, he was hospitalized in Kalkfontein due to fever.

On 13 and 14 April 1909, Kirchheim received treatment for muscular rheumatism. From 24 to 30 November 1909, he was treated in Windhoek Hospital for malaria tropica tertiana. On 17 May 1910, his request to remain in the Schutztruppe for another three and a half years was approved. From 27 June 1910 to 23 July 1910, he was seconded to the Spandau Rifle Factory for training in weapons repair and machine gun maintenance. On 10 September 1910, he was seconded to Posen for service with the 1st Royal Mounted Rifle Regiment (Königs-Jäger zu Pferde Nr. 1) from 1 October to 19 November 1910. On 2 October 1910, he was promoted to First Lieutenant. From 29 October 1913 to 18 November 1913, he was treated for purulent tonsillitis on the German passenger steamer Eduard Woermann. On 15 January 1914, he was granted paid leave to study Egyptian camel riding in Cairo from 27 January to 9 March 1914. After almost nine and a half years, First Lieutenant Kirchheim left the Schutztruppe on 10 March 1914 and was commissioned into the Hanoverian Jäger Battalion No. 10 in Goslar on 11 March 1914. He was assigned to the 1st Company as a company officer. He retained this position until the mobilization for World War I in early August 1914.

He served in WWI from 1914 to 1918, was wounded the first time on 26 August 1914 (wounded in the head and neck by an infantry bullet) as leader of the 1st Company/Hanoverian Jäger Battalion No. 10 (since 4 August 1914). On 4 May 1915, he was appointed commander of the 2nd Company. he was delegated with the leadership of the Hanoverian Jäger Battalion No. 10 from 27 December 1915 to 2 February 1916. He then returned to his company, but was officially appointed commander of the Hanoverian Jäger Battalion No. 10 on 17 August 1916 subordinated to the German Alpine Corps (Deutsches Alpenkorps). From 11 to 18 April 1918, he led his battalion in the Battle of Armentières. This was followed by the Battle of Kemmelberg from 19 to 29 April 1918. From 30 April 1918, his battalion was deployed in trench warfare in Flanders. On 2 May 1918, he suffered a minor head contusion; a direct artillery hit destroyed his dugout, but he remained with his unit. From 26 to 30 May 1918, he was assigned to the battalion commander's course in Andenaarde. From 23 to 30 June 1918, he was assigned to Course A of the Army Signals School. From 11 to 31 August 1918, he and his battalion were deployed in the defensive battle between the Somme and Oise rivers. From 3 to 24 September 1918, they fought in front of the Siegfried Line. On 25 September 1918, the battalion was loaded onto trains in Ors and Château. Transported through Hungary via Belgrade, the battalion arrived in Niš, where it was unloaded on 3 October 1918. From 7 October to 2 November 1918, the battalion participated in rearguard actions in Macedonia and Serbia, including crossings of the Sava and Danube rivers. On 13 October 1918, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite for his leadership of the battalion in the Battle of Epéhy. Upon returning to the garrison, he was appointed garrison elder in Goslar on 27 December 1918 by order of the X Army Corps.

From 1 February to 4 June 1919, he served with the Grenzschutz Ost as commander of his own Freikorps, the Hanoverian Volunteer Jäger Battalion "Kirchheim" (Freiwilliges Hannoversches Jäger-Bataillon „Kirchheim“) which he had founded on 23 January 1919. From 15 August 1919, he then served with the Reichswehr in various positions (including battalion commander), having been newly sworn-in on 20 January 1921, was appointed commandant of the Glatz Command (Eduard Metz was one of his officers) on 15 March with effect from 1 April 1930 and retired from military service on 7 March with effect from 31 March 1932, receiving the right to continue wearing the uniform. From 1 April 1932 to 30 October 1934, he was employed with the factory of his father-in-law, the "Firma Ernst Schneider" in Lüdenscheid (founded 1873). On 1 April 1935, five months after rejoining the Reichswehr, he became a partner in the company, which not only manufactured metal products (Metallwarenfabrik) but was also famous for producing various orders and decorations on behalf of the state and the military.

Third Reich

  • 1 November 1934 Training course at Military District Command VI in Deutsch-Krone
  • 1 December 1934 Reemployed with the Reichswehr as L-Angestellter (civilian employees in "national security affairs") in the Arnsberg Supplementary Battalion
    • 26 February 1935 (effective 1 March 1935) with effect from 1 December 1934 appointed L-Offizier
    • territorial protection / state security officer, but still de jure a civilian employee with the last rank of retired officer
  • 9 January 1935 Newly sworn-in
  • 5 March 1935 Appointed Ergänzungsoffizier and commander of the Arnsberg Supplementary Battalion
    • supplemental, but not active officer
  • 27 September with effect from 1 October 1935 Appointed Commander of the Arnsberg military district
  • 25 November with effect from 30 November 1935 Once again retired, receiving the right to continue wearing the uniform
  • * 20 February 1936 Taken over as a civil servant and appointed Regierungsdirektor im Reichsdienst (Government Director in the Reich Service)
  • 25 March with effect from 1 April 1936 Reemployed with the Wehrmacht as a supplemental officer (Ergänzungsoffizier) and appointed commander of Military District Cologne II
  • 21 May with effect from 1 June 1938 Commander of Military District Vienna I
  • 15 December 1938 Appointed active officer
  • 19 January 1939 Ordered to wear the uniform of the Infanterie-Regiment 7
  • 14 September (date of the HPA telegram) with effect from 21 September 1939 Appointed commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 276 in Brieg
  • 20 February 1941 Führerreserve (OKH)/Army High Command Leader Reserve
  • 1 March 1941 (another source states 24 February) Deployed to Africa as head of the Special Staff Libya, initially also known as the Colonial Staff Libya, to apply the knowledge he had acquired as a colonial officer
    • Kirchheim served in an advisory capacity to Erwin Rommel, who also repeatedly used him as a troop commander. At the head of the advance detachment of the Italian "Brescia" Division, Kirchheim captured Barees on 6 April 1941, and Derna two days later. On 10 April 1941, while driving on the Via Balbia towards Tobruk, he was wounded in a low-level air attack. While waiting by the roadside, Major General Heinrich Constantin von Prittwitz und Gaffron passed by in his Kübelwagen. The Kübelwagen was tasked with reconnaissance artillery positions in front of the Tobruk fortress. The Kübelwagen informed Kirchheim that there were Italian outposts at kilometer 13. A few minutes later, Kirchheim set off in the same direction and encountered a waving first lieutenant at kilometer 14. This officer was the adjutant to Major General Heinrich von Prittwitz und Gaffron and informed him of the deaths of Major General von Prittwitz und Gaffron and his driver (Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck took over the 15. Panzer-Division). Kirchheim ordered the first lieutenant to get into the vehicle and drove back. Medical teams later sent forward found the general and the driver dead and brought their remains back. Despite being wounded, he participated in the fighting around Tobruk and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 May 1941. This made Kirchheim one of the few soldiers to receive the army's highest decoration for gallantry in both world wars. On 15 June 1941, Kirchheim was called to the Army High Command (OKH) in Berlin, but returned to Libya only a few weeks later, arriving in Tripoli on 10 July 1941, together with Colonel Hermann Harttmann and Major Popp.
  • 6 September (date of the HPA telegram) with effect from 25 August 1941 Head of the Special Staff for Tropical Affairs at the Chief of Army Armaments and Commander of the Replacement Army at the General Army Office (AHA)
    • From 9 November to 28 November 1942, he was hospitalized for a hernia in the surgical ward, Ward 22a, of the Robert Koch Hospital at Turmstraße 21 in Berlin NW 21, which belonged to Reserve Hospital 135 Berlin. On 1 March 1943, he received the following evaluation from General of the Infantry Friedrich Olbricht, Chief of the Army Armaments Office (AHA):
      • "Continuing to prove himself. Assessment: Still fulfills the position well. Average. Recommendation: Retirement position." On 17 June 1943, Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm, Chief of Army Armaments and Commander of the Replacement Army, added: "A particularly proven officer who has gained considerable experience in his most recent posting, which could be used not only for Africa but also in the deployment of march battalions to the front. I will submit a corresponding recommendation for his reassignment shortly."
    • His Special Tropical Staff was disbanded after the loss of Africa in May 1943. He then took over as leader of Special Staff C in the OKH (Army High Command), which was responsible for overseeing the training of the Replacement Army.
  • Following the assassination attempt of 20 July 1944, he was a member of the Wehrmacht's Court of Honor in August 1944, which expelled the accused officers from the Wehrmacht, thus placing them under the jurisdiction of the People's Court. This Court of Honor consisted primarily of Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt, Generaloberst Heinz Guderian, General of the Infantry Walter Schroth and Lieutenant General Karl-Wilhelm Specht as active members. In addition to him, General of the Infantry Karl Kriebel also served as a representative.
  • 23 August with effect from 22 August 1944 Appointed Inspector of the Military Replacement Inspection Berlin (WEB) and Judge of the Central Court of the Army
  • 5 January 1945 Admitted again to Reserve Hospital 123 in Berlin due to influenza
  • 25 March 1945 Führerreserve (OKH)/Army High Command Leader Reserve
    • In March 1945, he was again admitted to a military hospital (Meiningen Reserve Hospital) due to a serious illness. Lieutenant General Johannes Streich was appointed his successor as Inspector of the Berlin Military Replacement Inspection.

Memberships

Family

Heinrich Georg was the son of the Protestant military staff physician (Stabsarzt) and later medical councilor Dr. med August Wilhelm Theodor Kirchheim (d 8 May 1903 in Bad Elmen near Magdeburg) and his wife Julie Sophie, née Harbers (d. 14 June 1934). He had several siblings:

  • Ludwig Heinrich Robert (b. 13 September 1876 in Minden), Dr. med., ⚔ on 9 September 1914 near Sompuis as Staff Surgeon of the reserves (Stabsarzt der Reserve) with the Kurhessisches Jäger-Batailon Nr. 11
  • Ernst Theodor Gisbert (b. 20 March 1878 in Groß Salze), career officer, ⚔ on 14 September 1914 during a battle near Cerny as Captain in the Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 13
  • Luise Mathilde (Hedwig) Helene "Helma" (b. 10 Dezember 1880 in Groß Salze); ∞ Berlin-Steglitz 2 May 1914 Dr. med. Walter Adolf Ernst Stolze
    • Ludwig Stolze (b. 15 May 1916 in Magdeburg), Wehrmacht officer, ⚔ on 27 December 1941 by heart shot near Schitnikovo as 1st Lieutenant in the 3rd Company/Infanterie-Regiment 18; posthumously promoted to Captain due to bravery in the face of the enemy.
  • Theodor Gustav Wilhelm (b. 4 July 1885 in Groß Salze), Dr. med., ⚔ on 14. September 1916 as Staff Surgeon (Stabsarzt) in Salchige on the Euphrates
  • Friedrich Wilhelm (b. 4 April 1887 in Groß Salze; d. 13 October 1969 in Weil am Rhein), studied medicine and became a doctor
  • Julie Bertha Mathilde (b. 8 June 1888 in Groß Salze; d. 12 December 1890)
  • Rudolf Carl Hermann (b. 20 December 1889 in Groß Salze; d. 7 February 1977 in Giessen), studied medicine and became a doctor

Marriage

On 18 May 1926, Major Kirchheim was granted permission to marry. On 20 July 1926 in Lüdenscheid, he married his fiancée Elise Emma Helene Hildegard Schneider (b. 6 July 1901; d. 6 October 1985 in Lüdenscheid), daughter of the wealthy factory owner Ernst Schneider (d. 14 July 1928). They would have two children:

  • Helene / Hildegard "Hella" (b. 28 July 1927 in Schweidnitz)
    • at the time of her birth, her father was commander of the Training Battalion/7th (Prussian) Infantry Regiment in Schweidnitz
  • Ernst-Heinrich Ludwig Theodor (b. 20 May 1932 in Lüdenscheid)

Promotions

  • 1 May 1899 Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
  • 1 September 1899 Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter (Officer Candidate with Lance Corporal rank)
  • 1 November 1899 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
  • 27 January 1900 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
  • 18 October 1900 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
  • 2 October 1910 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) with Patent from 19 February 1910
  • 19 August 1914 Hauptmann (Captain)
  • 27 March 1923 Major with effect from 1 April 1923
  • 1 November 1928 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
  • 1 April 1931 Oberst (Colonel)
    • 31 March 1932 Oberst a. D. (Retired Colonel)
  • 26 February 1935 (effective 1 March 1935) Oberst a. D. und Landesschutzoffizier (territorial protection / state security officer; L-Offizier) with effect from 1 December 1934
  • 5 March 1935 Oberst (E)
    • 1 May 1935 received Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 November 1933
    • 30 November 1935 Oberst (E) a. D. (Retired Supplemental Colonel)
  • 20 February 1936 Regierungsdirektor im Reichsdienst (Government Director in the Reich Service; Civil Servant)
  • 25 March 1936 Oberst (E) with effect from 1 April 1936 and Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 November 1933 (1)
  • 15 December 1938 Oberst (active Colonel)
  • 27 August 1939 Charakter als Generalmajor (Honorary / Brevet Major General) on the occasion of Tannenberg Day
  • 17 June 1940 Generalmajor with effect and RDA from 1 July 1940 (6)
  • 13 June 1942 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) with effect and RDA from 1 July 1942 (5)

Awards and decorations

Heinrich Kirchheim, Reichswehr Rank List 1931, p. 112.png

External links

Sources

  • German Federal Archives: BArch PERS 6/665 and PERS 6/299987

References

  1. ↑ Neitzel, Sönke (19 July 2013). Tapping Hitler's Generals: Transcripts of Secret Conversations 1942–45. Frontline Books. 
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