Nikolaus Heilmann


Nikolaus Heilmann was a high-ranking commander in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
Born in 1903, Heilmann joined the police force in 1925. In May 1939 he joined the SS and at the start of World War II, he was posted to the SS Polizei Division and served during the occupation of France and the Low Countries. In June 1943, he was promoted to Standartenführer and appointed Chief of Staff to the IV SS Panzer Corps whose entire staff was transferred to the VI SS Army Corps.
He remained on the Army staff until February 1944 when he was given command of the 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS and promoted to Oberführer. He was transferred to command the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS in August 1944, when he was wounded and also awarded the Knight's Cross. He returned to command the 15th SS in January 1945. He was killed in action on 4 January 1945 and posthumously promoted to the rank of Brigadeführer.

Awards