Generalmajor Ludwig Heilmann (LUFTWAFFE)

SOME OF THE PRISONERS HELD AT
SPECIAL CAMP 11

NAME: Generalmajor Ludwig Heilmann (Luftwaffe)

PW NO: 18894
RANK: Generalmajor (Luftwaffe)
CAPTURED: Adenau / Rheinland
DATE: 12th March 1945

PERSONAL
DATE OF BIRTH: 9 August 1903
PLACE OF BIRTH: Würzburg
DATE OF DEATH: 26 October 1959
PLACE OF DEATH: Kempton / Allgäu
NATIONALITY:
RELIGION:
OCCUPATION:
HEIGHT:
WEIGHT:
HAIR COLOUR:
EYE COLOUR:
NEXT OF KIN:

Promotions:

Oberschütze: 1 November 1924
Gefreiter: 1 december 1924
Unteroffizier: 1 May 1925
Unterfeldwebel: 1 October 1927
Feldwebel: 1 July 1929
Leutnant: 1 July 1934 (RDA 1 April 1928)
Oberleutnant: 1 July 1934 (RDA 1 April 1932)
Hauptmann: 1 December 1935 (RDA 1 December 1934)
Major: 1 August 1940 (RDA 1 December 1939)
Oberstleutnant: 1 April 1942 (RDA 1 March 1942)
Oberst: 1 December 1943 (RDA 1 March 1943)
Generalmajor: 22 December 1944 (RDA 1 December 1944)

Commands & Assignments:

3 February 1921-3 February 1933: Soldier, Radio Operator, Shooting and Weapons Corporal and, in 1929, Platoon Leader in Infantry Regiment 21.
3 February 1933: Separated from the Army.
1 July 1934: Reactivated in the Army.
1 July 1934-30 September 1934: Platoon Leader in Infantry Regiment 20.
1 October 1934-14 October 1935: Company Chief in Infantry Regiment "Nürnberg."
15 October 1935-2 August 1936: Company Chief in Infantry Regiment 63.
3 August 1936-26 August 1939: Company Chief in Infantry Regiment 91.
27 August 1939-10 January 1940: On the staff of the II. Battalion of Infantry Regiment 91.
10 January 1940-2 May 1940: On the regimental staff of Infantry Regiment 91.
3 May 1940-17 June 1940: Company Chief in Infantry Regiment 423.
18 June 1940-13 July 1940: Detached to the 12th Parachute Rifleman Course at the Parachute School Wittstock.
14 July 1940-31 July 1940: Delegated with the leadership of the III. Battalion of Infantry Regiment 423.
1 August 1940: Transferred from the Army to the Luftwaffe.
1 August 1940-14 November 1942: Commander of the III. Battalion of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3. [On 20 May 1941, Heilmann’s battalion parachuted into Crete in the first assault wave. His battalion suffered heavy losses with only one company landing on target. His other three companies were scattered with one company landing in a reservoir drowning many of the troops and another company coming down on top of a New Zealand camp.]
15 November 1942-4 June 1943: Delegated with the leadership of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3.
5 June 1943-16 November 1944: Commander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3. [Heilmann’s regiment saw heavy combat in Sicily and Italy including the stubborn defense of Monte Cassino from January-May 1944.]

17 November 1944-21 December 1944: Delegated with the leadership of the 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division.
22 December 1944-5 March 1945: Commander of the 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division. [Heilmann’s division took part in the Ardennes Offensive in December 1944 where it suffered heavy losses while fighting on the German southern flank.]
5 March 1945-August 1947: Prisoner of war.
- 15 April 1945 transferred to Trent Park Camp 11 sorting camp.
- 2nd May 1946 transferred to LDC (London District Cage)

Decorations & Awards:

Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross: 14 June 1941, Major, Commander of the III. Battalion of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 3 for action at Crete.
Oakleaves (No. 412): 2 March 1944, Oberst, Commander of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 3 for action at Monte Cassino.
Swords (No. 67): 15 May 1944, Oberst, Commander of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 3 for action at Monte Cassino.
German Cross in Gold: 9 March 1942, Major, Commander of the III. Battalion of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 3.
Iron Cross, 1st Class (1939): 14 June 1941.
Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1939): 2 October 1939.
Armed Forces Long Service Award, 3rd Class (12-year Service Medal): 2 October 1936.
Armed Forces Long Service Award, 4th Class (4-year Service Medal): 2 October 1936.
“KRETA” Campaign Cuff-Title: 20 May 1943.
Luftwaffe Parachutist Badge
Luftwaffe Ground Combat Badge
Wound Badge in Black – World War II award