Heino von Rantzau

Heino von Rantzau (8 March 1894 – 2 November 1946) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Heino von Rantzau was captured by American troops in April 1945, and died in captivity on 2 November 1946.

Heino von Rantzau
Born	8 March 1894 Karlsruhe
Died	2 November 1946 (aged 52) Allendorf
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1920)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Prussian Army (1913–18) Reichsheer (1918–33) Army (1933–35) Luftwaffe (1935–45)
Years of service	1913–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	2. Flak-Division (mot.) III. Flakkorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Siege of Leningrad Defense of the Reich Ruhr Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg
• Military Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd class (Mecklenburg-Schwerin)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (17 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (28 July 1940)
• Eastern Front Medal
• Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge
• German Cross in Gold (24 December 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 August 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of 2. Flak-Division (mot.)[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 284.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• Heino von Rantzau @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived November 17, 2010)
• World War 2 Awards.com