Heinrich Bastian

Who was Heinrich Bastian?

Heinrich Bastian was an Obersturmführer, in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Heinrich Bastian was born in Weissenfels on the 3 April 1920. In September 1940 he joined the Waffen SS and was posted to the SS Artillery Regiment stationed in Berlin, he then transferred to the SS Regiment Deutschland in March 1942, being selected as an officer cadet.

By August 1943 he was in the Headquarters staff of the II.Battalion, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier regiment Deutschland which was part of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, he was promoted in September 1943 to Untersturmführer and in November 1944 to Obersturmführer and commanded the II/3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment during the Ardennes Offensive and Operation Spring Awakening in Hungary in 1945 and was still in command when it surrendered to the advancing American Forces, on the 8 May 1945. He was held as a prisoner of war until October 1946 when he was handed over to the new German Authorities and released in December 1947.