Heinz Greiner (12 August 1895 – 19 November 1977) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.

Heinrich Greiner
Born(1895-08-12)12 August 1895
Died19 November 1977(1977-11-19) (aged 82)
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchArmy (Wehrmacht)
RankGeneralleutnant
Commands268th Infantry Division
362nd Infantry Division
Battles / warsWorld War I World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Career

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During Operation Barbarossa Greiner reached divisional level command. The division was destroyed in the Soviet Operation Bagration in the summer of 1944, along with much of Army Group Centre. Greiner was transferred to Italy where he took command of the 362nd Infantry Division. Losses were so heavy in the division in Italy that a bit of doggerel made the rounds:

The division of Greiner
Gets chopped ever finer
Until roll call's a one liner
That simply says: Greiner.[1]

Awards and decorations

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Ellis, John. Brute Force p.115
  2. ^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 220.
  3. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 168.
  4. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 74.

Bibliography

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  • Ellis, John (1990). Brute Force [Allied Strategy and Tactics in the Second World War] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Viking. ISBN 978-067080773-4 – via Internet Archive.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [First published 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.
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Erich Straube
Commander of 268th Infantry Division
6 January 1942 – November 1943
Succeeded by
Unit disbanded
Preceded by
None
Commander of 362nd Infantry Division
November 1943 – 1 January 1945
Succeeded by