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~SOLD~MACHER Heinz~
Sturmbannführer
Macher, Heinz
* 31.12.1919 Chemnitz/Sachsen
+ 21.12.2001 Schenefeld
Awarded Knights Cross: 03.04.1943
as: Untersturmführer Führer 16.(Pi.)/PzGrenRgt "Deutschland"
Macher’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…
“SS-Untersturmführer Macher has distinguished himself throughout the eastern campaign of 1941/42. He and his 16.(Pionier)Kp./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Deutschland’ then brought about a series of outstanding feats-of-arms during the defensive combat in the Oskol sector in February 1943. These significantly contributed to the tactical accomplishments of the entire SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Deutschland’.
Macher and his Kompanie repeatedly showed commendable bravery whilst conducting mine-clearing and patrol operations during the pursuit battles from Krassnograd to Kharkov.
During an armoured attack against Pawlograd (which saw the bulk of the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Der Führer’, the staff of SS-Division ‘Das Reich’ and Macher’s 16./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Deutschland’ committed), Macher gathered up his Kompanie on his own initiative, eliminated 2 hostile tanks, forced the remaining 10 to withdraw and eliminated the majority of 2 enemy companies.
On the 11.03.1943 Macher received the task of launching an assault operation with his Kompanie without the support of heavy weapons. He and his men were to seize the anti-tank ditch west of Kharkov before using a Panzer-Pionier-Zug to create a crossing for our Panzer troops to thrust into Kharkov itself. Macher entered into the anti-tank ditch, eliminate those hostile MG nests located there and took control of a favourable point that could serve as a crossing for the totally iced-over anti-tank ditch.
Then he acted beyond the confines of his original mission. Macher decided to immediately storm beyond the tank ditch into the enemy positions along the edge of Kharkov. He sought to eliminate the heavy machine-gun nests in the houses and armoured cupolas located here and then knock out the hostile Pakfront located just behind them. These well dug-in anti-tank guns occupied commanding positions, and on the 11.03.1943 they had prevented the forward advance of our Panzer forces that were also being hampered by the anti-tank ditch.
Macher and his 32-man strong Kompanie seized cupola after cupola and house after house in close combat, and they knocked out those enemy weapons that had been brought into position there.
Macher then held this penetration against several hostile counterthrusts (some of which had to be defeated in hand-to-hand combat). During this operation Macher distinguished himself through his outstanding bravery and fearlessness.
The initiative displayed by SS-Untersturmführer Macher opened up the way to Kharkov for the bulk of the SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division ‘Das Reich’ at an unexpectedly early stage. This helped to lay the groundwork for the swift and relatively bloodless occupation of the city of Kharkov itself.
Particularly worthy of note is that Macher employed his Kompanie in such a way that it was able to conclude the fighting with very few losses despite being involved in fierce close combat.”
1393rd Award.
Awarded Oakleaves as the 554th Recipient : 19.08.1944 als Obersturmführer
Chef 16.(Pi.)/PzGrenRgt 3 "Deutschland"
Macher’s Oakleaves recommendation reads as follows…
“SS-Obersturmführer Macher and his 16./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 3 ‘Deutschland’ have significantly contributed to the tactical victories of the Regiment throughout the time that Macher has commanded the unit. In every situation he has distinguished himself through his personal bravery and inspired every one of his men through his example in battle. He has also seen notable success as a trainer of troops, and has demonstrated clear talent in being able to transform his SS-men into especially motivated and aggressive soldiers.
During the time period 09.-17.07.1944 the 16./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 3 ‘Deutschland’ served as a ready reserve for Kampfgruppe Wisliceny.
In these days the enemy carried out a total of 64 probes and attacks against the frontline of the Kampfgruppe (of which 53 had armour support). The enemy were able to break into the frontline 37 times, and 37 times they were thrown back via counterthrusts.
Of these counterthrusts, Macher personally organized and carried out a total of 29 with a Kompanie reserve consisting of 1 squad and the Kompanie HQ. On every occasion he was able to eject the foe from the frontline thanks to his prudent leadership and exceptional aggressiveness.
SS-Obersturmführer played a leading role in holding the position until it was later evacuated. Macher would even provide the rearguard that managed to guarantee an orderly withdrawal and occupation of the new frontline.
The counterthrusts were carried out at the following times:
09.07.1944 18:25
10.07.1944 09:15, 11:22, 12:17, 17:40, 19:32, 20:45
11.07.1944 10:37, 16:12, 18:28
12.07.1944 15:20, 15:55, 17:42, 19:10
13.07.1944 08:20, 10:25, 12:15
15.07.1944 09:18, 11:05, 13:55, 18:42, 20:10
16.07.1944 13:25, 15:50
17.07.1944 18:30, 19:25, 21:10, 22:00, 22:55
Only Macher’s endurance in this combat enabled it to be concluded successfully. The achievements that he rendered were extraordinary.”
544th Award.
Postwar signed photo measuring 4” x 6”
One of only 98 Recipients of both the CLOSE COMBAT IN GOLD and the KNIGHTS CROSS
Macher came on April 3, 1939 in the 2nd / Pioneer Battalion Dresden and took part in the Polenfeldzug . In 1940 he took part in the west campaign and then attended the Junker school , in April 1941 he was promoted to Untersturmführer.
Macher fought in June 1941 in Russia . He became in the fall of 1942 leader of the 16th (Pioneer) Company / Panzergrenadier Regiment 3 "Germania" . At the reconquest of the city of Kharkov in March 1943, he distinguished himself with his company by forming a bridgehead in the defense area of the city, for which he was awarded on April 3, 1943 with the Knight's Cross .
Promoted to Obersturmführer in April 1943, he took part in July 1943 "Citadel" and then came to the West, where he led his company from July 1944 on the invasion front in France .
On August 19, 1944 he was awarded the Oak Leaves . In early August 1944, he took over the leadership of the II / Panzer Grenadier Regiment 3 and was promoted to Hauptsturmführer . On October 18, 1944, he was awarded the close combat clasp in gold. On January 10, 1945, he came as an officer, for example V. to the staff of the Army Group "Vistula" and defended here the "Festive square Küstrin".
Macher was appointed the second assistant to Heinrich Himmler in 1944, followed by Werner Grothmann. In 1945, Macher led a group of 15 specialists who were ordered by Himmler to blow up the castle Wewelsburg near Paderborn in order to ensure that the devotional objects and important files should not fall into the hands of the Allies. The demolition command arrived on March 31, 1945. The same day, after Macher had informed the local fire brigade, the south-east tower, the least important tower of the large castle, was blown up. Because of lack of explosives they could not blow up the rest of the complex. Macher ordered the firemen not to extinguish the fire so that most of the complex was nevertheless destroyed. Macher was also charged with the task of burying the castle's treasures, including over 9,000 Death's Head rings held in a shrine to commemorate Elite men killed in action. These treasures have never been found.
During the last few days of the war, Himmler, Macher and Grothmann traveled from Lübeck to Flensburg, where Himmler offered his services as second-in-command to the new interim government led by Karl Dönitz, who had been appointed a successor to Adolf Hitler. Dönitz repeatedly rejected Himmler's overtures and initiated peace negotiations with the Allies.
Dismissed from his posts and unwanted by his former colleagues, Himmler attempted to go into hiding in order to avoid capture. Himmler equipped himself with a forged paybook under the name of Sergeant Heinrich Hitzinger of the Geheime Feldpolizei (Secret Field Police), which was a mistake since members of this organization were sought after by the liberation forces. Macher and Grothmann were both dressed as army privates. Macher, Himmler and Grothmann were stopped at a checkpoint, which had been set up by former Soviet POWs, on May 21 and detained. The three men were taken to an Allied barracks in Lüneburg on May 23. During a routine interrogation, Himmler admitted who he was; thereafter, at the headquarters of the Second British Army, during an attempted medical examination Himmler bit into a hidden cyanide pill and died. After Himmler's suicide, Macher and Grothmann were arrested.
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