Dr.med. Heinrich Neumann – Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1 (Kreta)

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Dr.med. Heinrich Neumann. Oberstabsarzt Dr.med. Heinrich Neumann (17.02.1908 † 19.05.2005) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on August 21, 1941 as Oberstabsarzt und Regimentsarzt of Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1.

Awarded for his actions during the Battle of Crete. As all the officers of the I./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 1 had fallen, Neumann took over the leadership of the rest of the Bataillon. Oberleutnant Trebes, commanding the remnants of the Stoßgruppe Braun, also attached himself to Neumann’s group. Acting on his own initiative, Dr. Neumann decided to capture the NW part of Hill 107 and eliminate the Allied AA guns there that commanded the Maleme airfield. In this he was successful, with this action being the turning point of the whole battle. After returning to his nominal duties, he was then ordered by the newly arrived Oberst Ramcke to take over the Bataillon once again. Thus, on the morning of 22.05.1941, Neumann divided the Bataillon into 2 Kompanien. The next day Neumann and his men took the role of Vorausabteilung, and advanced ahead of the left wing of the II. Bataillon towards the east. At 17:00 he reached the village of Modea. The next day, while on the hill south of Platania, the Bataillon halted as the attack had been postponed. Finally, on the 24.05.1941, Oberleutnant Stolz took over the leadership of the Bataillon and Neumann could finally return to looking after the many wounded for good. In this capacity he also distinguished himself outstandingly.

Provenance: This signature comes from one of the largest postwar signature collection I’ve ever commissioned. This collection was started by a Waffen-SS Veteran, Werner H., in the 1950’s until he passed away.