Heinrich Bastian

Heinrich Bastian was an Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant), in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Heinrich Bastian was born in Weissenfels on the 3 April 1920. In September 1940 he joined the Waffen SS and was posted to the SS Artillery Regiment stationed in Berlin, he then transferred to the SS Regiment Deutschland in March 1942, being selected as an officer cadet (SS-Oberjunker).

By August 1943 he was in the Headquarters staff of the II.Battalion, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier regiment Deutschland which was part of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, he was promoted in September 1943 to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) and in November 1944 to Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) and commanded the II/3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment during the Ardennes Offensive and Operation Spring Awakening in Hungary in 1945 and was still in command when it surrendered to the advancing American Forces, on the 8 May 1945. He was held as a prisoner of war until October 1946 when he was handed over to the new German Authorities and released in December 1947. Bastian was awarded the Knight's Cross by Sepp Dietrich in May 1945, as what became known as Dietrich awards and at the time was the commander of the VI SS Panzer Army and there is some doubt as to the legality of these awards.

Heinrich Bastian died on 13 January 2002 in Darmstadt.