Bruno Hinz

Who was Bruno Hinz?

Bruno Hinz was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Bruno Hinz joined the 10th Company, SS-Standarte Deutschland in Munich in October 1936 and was part of the forces connected with the Anschluss of Austria and the occupation of the Sudetenland and the annexation of Memel.

At the beginning of World War II he was severely wounded in May 1940 during the Battle of France and promoted to Unterscharführer in September 1940. From December 1940 to March 1941, he was assigned to the SS replacement battalion Germany. He was then selected for officer training and sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Brunswick. After six months, training he was posted to the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking at the same time being promoted to Untersturmführer and given command of the 2nd Company, SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Westland. It was while in command of this company that he was awarded the German Cross in Gold in April 1943.

In September 1943 his company was in a defensive position on the Dnieper which allowed the 5th SS Panzer Division, to cross the Dnepr River, but during the battle Hinz was severely wounded. Sent to recuperate in the hospital in Germany he was promoted to Obersturmführer in November 1943 and awarded the Knight's Cross in December 1943 for this action. After six months in hospital he returned to active service in February 1944 to took over command of the 2nd Company, 38th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment.