Eberhard Heder

Eberhard Heder
File:Eberhard Heder1.jpg
Born	(1918-06-30) 30 June 1918 Neustettin, Pomerania
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS Bundeswehr
Years of service	1937–45 Waffen SS 1955–76 Bundeswehr
Rank	Sturmbannführer Oberst
Unit	5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Close Combat Clasp in Silver Infantry Assault Badge Wound Badge in Black Eastern Front Medal 1941/42

Eberhard Heder (born 30 June 1918) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II. After World War II he was admitted into the Bundeswehr and obtained the rank of Oberst (Colonel).

Early life

Heder was born on 30 June 1918 in Neustettin, Pomerania. He volunteered to join the Waffen SS and joined the SS Pionier Battalion in Dresden on the 1 November 1937.

World War II

He was later selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig in 1939 and after graduation he was given command of a company in the 5th SS Pionier (Engineer) Battalion, SS Division Wiking.

He deployed with them in Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in August 1941 and the Iron Cross 1st class in January 1942.

He was awarded the German Cross in Gold in March 1943, when in command of the Estnisches SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Battalion Narwa during the Battle of Kharkov, Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket and the "Battle of Kowel".

He was then given command of the 5th Pionier Battalion and was awarded the Knight's Cross in November 1944 for his actions in the fighting for Warsaw.

Post war

Heder survived the war and later joined the West German Bundeswehr in 1955 and reached the rank of Oberst (Colonel) on 30 September 1976. After his marriage he lived in Daseburg and now in Warburg.