Hinrich Ahrens

Hinrich Ahrens
Born21 March 1921
Eickedorf, Kreis Osterholz, Regierungsbezirk Stade, Province of Hanover, Free State of Prussia, German Reich
Died31 December 2009(2009-12-31) (aged 88)
Grasberg-Eickedorf, Landkreis Osterholz, Lower Saxony, Federal Republic of Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
BranchHeer
Service years1940–45
RankFeldwebel
UnitGrenadier-Regiment 1141
ConflictsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hinrich Ludwig Ahrens (21 March 1921 – 31 December 2009) was a highly decorated Feldwebel in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Ahrens was captured by Belgian forces in April 1945 and was held until September 1945.

Life

After eight years of compulsory school (Volksschule), Ahrens completed a three-year apprenticeship as a miller from 1936 to 1939, including attending vocational school. He then worked in his trade until 19 August 1940, when he began his compulsory service with the Reich Labor Service (RAD) in Nordholz (until 4 January 1941). During his time with the RAD, he was deployed, among other things, to France to build airfield facilities.

WWII

On 6 February 1941, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht and assigned to the 5th Company of the Hamburg Tank Destroyer Replacement Battalion 20. After completing his basic training, he was assigned to the 14th Company of the Infantry Regiment 301. On 9 August 1941, he was wounded for the first time. The regiment was renamed Grenadier Regiment 301 on 15 October 1942. Following the disbandment of the 206th Infantry Division (18 July 1944), he was transferred to the 13th tank destroyer (Panzerjäger) company of the Grenadier Regiment 1141.

During his act of bravery on 16 October 1944, he was wounded for the 7th time, or according to other sources, the 8th or 9th time, and only returned to the regiment on 28 December 1944. After receiving the Knight's Cross and a short leave at home, he returned to duty. However, sources differ on this point; some report that he was assigned to Training Company 22 in Oldenburg, while others state that he returned to his regiment in the Königsberg fortress. In February 1945, he was severely wounded again and was admitted to the reserve military hospital in Bremen on 26 February 1945. On 28 April 1945, while still in the hospital, he was taken prisoner of war by the Belgians, from which he was released on 14 September 1945 due to his poor health.

Knight's Cross

Hinrich Ahrens commanded a 3.7 cm Pak 36 anti-tank gun (Panzerabwehrkanone) crew during a major Soviet attack against his Division’s sector on the 16 October 1944. Positioned just to the north of Wirballen, he continued to fight with his Pak gun even after his entire crew had been wiped out by Soviet artillery fire. He inflicted heavy losses on the attacking Soviet infantry by firing high explosive rounds, and he continued to fight them off with hand grenades as the attackers pushed past him on either side and attacked from the rear. A group of ten enemy tanks then approached him. Ahrens knocked out the first one with the Panzerfaust and thereby forced the remainder to fall back.

After expending his ammunition, he resolved that the gun would not fall into the hands of the Red Army under any circumstances. He fought his way through the enemy ring back to his battalion command post, picked up some explosives and then headed back. Along the way, he was badly wounded in the thigh, however, he continued to storm forwards against the bewildered Soviets along with two other soldiers. He managed to blow up his gun and thereafter fight his way back to friendly lines with his two comrades. Ahrens’ bravery significantly contributed to the prevention of a Soviet breakthrough here. He would subsequently be awarded the Knight’s Cross in recognition of his actions.

Promotions

  • 6 February 1941 Panzerjäger (Tank Destroyer)
  • 1 July 1942 Gefreiter (Private E-2/Lance Corporal)
  • 1 November 1943 Unteroffizier (NCO/Corporal/Junior Sergeant)
  • 28 December 1944 Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant) with effect from 1 December 1944

Awards and decorations

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Thomas & Wegmann 1987, p. 25.
  2. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 12.
  3. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 114.
  4. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 189.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1987). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 1: A–Be (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1153-2.
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