Many years later, I decided to research the division that my brother was in since I never got a chance to learn much about it. The 12th SS Panzer Division Hiterjugend idea was created sometime in January 1943, by Gruppenfuhrer Gottlob Berger. This division was to be made up of young men who had been members of the Hitlerjugend and had been born sometime in the mid-1920's. Hitler liked this idea and ordered Berger to continue with this idea. Himmler then declined Berger as divisional commander and then gave the job to Fritz Witt. The official order for assembling the division was created on February 13th, 1943.
There were two groups of recruits that were both to start their six-week training at the Beverloo Camp in Belgium. The first group started their training at the camps on May 1st, 1943. Because the training commanders were under pressure to get the division on the battlefield as quickly as possibly, the first group was only able to complete four weeks of training. Heinz was in the second group. This group's training started on July 1st, 1943, and by September 1st, both groups were listed on the divisions rosters. The name of the division at the time was the SS Panzergrenadier Division Hitlerjugend. But after the division was informed that it was to be a panzer and not and panzergrenadier unit, the name changed to the SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend.
To boost the division's chances for success and survival, (and to add to the inexperienced soldiers) 1st SS Panzer Division veterans were assigned to be the commanders for the 12th SS Panzer Division (although there were also some army officers who were assigned to be commanders.) In order for Witt's division to be ready for combat in time, Witt skipped many required training tactics and instead taught the soldiers procedures for likely situations. Happiness and confidence of these new soldiers was so high that they did not know what to truly expect coming for them.
During the spring of 1943, the division was considered ready for combat along the western front. At the beginning of June, the division moved to Hasselt, Belgium.
On the morning of June 6th, Allied forces landing on the beaches of Normandy. The 12th SS Panzer Division, along with the 25th SS Panzergrenadier started on their way to Normandy. On the way to Normandy and the beaches of Sword and Juno, Allied fighter bombers consistently hampered the area. The division finally reached Evercy at 10 PM.
On June 7th, 10 AM, The 3rd Battalion and the 12th SS Panzer regiment supported the 25th SS Panzergrenadier and were ordered to crush the Canadians. Kurt Meyer, (commander of the 25th SS Panzergrenadier) and his troops began attacking the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and the 27th Tank Regiment at 2:00 PM. As the Canadian tanks reached Franqueville, the 12th SS Panzer division had attacking the Canadian tanks unexpectedly. The Canadian tanks were forced to go back to Authie. The two German divisions and the Battalion had ended up capturing Authie and Franqueville but could not get to Buron (which was a kilometer away.) During these attacks, the Hitlerjugend division had captured around 150 North Nova Scotia Highlander soldiers and crews from the 27th Tank Regiment. Heinz had died during these tank attacks which he was operating one and was in one of the 15 tanks that were destroyed. By the end of June, the 12th SS Panzer Hitlerjugend Division had lost 60% of its forces due to action on the battlefield. Fritz Witt would be killed only seven days after Heinz was killed.
There were two groups of recruits that were both to start their six-week training at the Beverloo Camp in Belgium. The first group started their training at the camps on May 1st, 1943. Because the training commanders were under pressure to get the division on the battlefield as quickly as possibly, the first group was only able to complete four weeks of training. Heinz was in the second group. This group's training started on July 1st, 1943, and by September 1st, both groups were listed on the divisions rosters. The name of the division at the time was the SS Panzergrenadier Division Hitlerjugend. But after the division was informed that it was to be a panzer and not and panzergrenadier unit, the name changed to the SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend.
To boost the division's chances for success and survival, (and to add to the inexperienced soldiers) 1st SS Panzer Division veterans were assigned to be the commanders for the 12th SS Panzer Division (although there were also some army officers who were assigned to be commanders.) In order for Witt's division to be ready for combat in time, Witt skipped many required training tactics and instead taught the soldiers procedures for likely situations. Happiness and confidence of these new soldiers was so high that they did not know what to truly expect coming for them.
During the spring of 1943, the division was considered ready for combat along the western front. At the beginning of June, the division moved to Hasselt, Belgium.
On the morning of June 6th, Allied forces landing on the beaches of Normandy. The 12th SS Panzer Division, along with the 25th SS Panzergrenadier started on their way to Normandy. On the way to Normandy and the beaches of Sword and Juno, Allied fighter bombers consistently hampered the area. The division finally reached Evercy at 10 PM.
On June 7th, 10 AM, The 3rd Battalion and the 12th SS Panzer regiment supported the 25th SS Panzergrenadier and were ordered to crush the Canadians. Kurt Meyer, (commander of the 25th SS Panzergrenadier) and his troops began attacking the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and the 27th Tank Regiment at 2:00 PM. As the Canadian tanks reached Franqueville, the 12th SS Panzer division had attacking the Canadian tanks unexpectedly. The Canadian tanks were forced to go back to Authie. The two German divisions and the Battalion had ended up capturing Authie and Franqueville but could not get to Buron (which was a kilometer away.) During these attacks, the Hitlerjugend division had captured around 150 North Nova Scotia Highlander soldiers and crews from the 27th Tank Regiment. Heinz had died during these tank attacks which he was operating one and was in one of the 15 tanks that were destroyed. By the end of June, the 12th SS Panzer Hitlerjugend Division had lost 60% of its forces due to action on the battlefield. Fritz Witt would be killed only seven days after Heinz was killed.