Heinrich Götz

Heinrich Götz
Born	1 January 1896 Hanover
Died	Oberaudorf
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1925) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–25 1934–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	83. Infanterie-Division 21. Infanterie-Division Infanterie-Division Scharnhorst
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Annexation of the Sudetenland Invasion of Poland Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman Battle of Kiev (1941) Lower Dnieper Offensive East Prussian Offensive Heiligenbeil Pocket Battle of Halbe
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Heinrich Götz (1 January 1896 – 31 January 1960) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Heinrich Götz was captured in 1945 and was held until 1948.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (25 October 1915)
  • 1st Class (19 March 1917)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Sudetenland Medal
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (30 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (6 October 1939)
• Eastern Front Medal
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 3 May 1942 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 466
  • 623rd Oak Leaves on 5 March 1945 as Generalmajor and commander of 21. Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned twiche in the Wehrmachtbericht (9 August 1944 and 28 September 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
9 August 1944 (addendum)	Im Nordabschnitt der Ostfront haben sich die norddeutsche 83. Infanteriedivision unter Oberst Götz mit unterstellten Teilen der ostpreußischen 61. Infanteriedivision und die 19. lettische SS-Division unter Führung von SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Streckenbach in Angriff und Abwehr besonders bewährt.	In the northern sector of the Eastern Front, the north German 83rd Infantry Division under Colonel Götz with subordinate units of the East Prussian 61st Infantry Division and the 19th Latvian SS Division under the command of SS-Brigadeführer and Major General of the Waffen SS Streckenbach have particularly proven themselves in attack and defense.
28 September 1944 (addendum)	In den Kämpfen im baltischen Raum hat sich die ostpreußische 21. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalmajor Götz in Angriff und Abwehr besonders ausgezeichnet.	In combat in the Baltic region, the East Prussian 21st Infantry Division under the leadership of Major General Götz has particularly excelled in attack and defense.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Heinrich Götz @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived January 24, 2011)

Military offices
Preceded by Generalmajor Wilhelm Heun	Commander of 83. Infanterie-Division 28 June 1944 – 22 August 1944	Succeeded by Generalmajor Wilhelm Heun
Preceded by Generalleutnant Hermann Foertsch	Commander of 21. Infanterie-Division 22 August 1944 – 25 September 1944	Succeeded by Oberst Hengersdorff
Preceded by Oberst Beyse	Commander of 21. Infanterie-Division 14 January 1945 – 1 April 1945	Succeeded by Generalmajor Karl Koetz
Preceded by Oberst Borgmann	Commander of Infanterie-Division "Scharnhorst" 8 April 1945 – 8 May 1945	Succeeded by None