Sunday, August 13, 2023

Bio of Hauptmann Dipl.-Ing. Albert Biecker (1897-1942)

Albert Biecker

Date of Birth: 15.09.1897 - Attendorn, Olpe, Nordrhein-Westfalen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 01.05.1942 - Cholm, south of Leningrad (Soviet Union)

Battles and Campaigns: Poland (1939), Westwall (1939-1940)

Promotions:
00.00.1914 Kriegsfreiwilliger
01.01.1941 Hauptmann der Landwehr (RDA 571)
24.06.1942 Hauptmann der Landwehr (2046-, erh. neues RDA vom 01.01.1940)

Career:
24.08.1914 - 16.02.1919 Kriegsfreiwilliger in the Prussian army
07.02.1938 - 08.03.1938 Ausbildungsleiter (A.L.) Berlin 3
26.08.1939 served in the 12.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 386
09.12.1939 transferred to 9.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 386
23.06.1940 Stab III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 386
28.06.1941 Chef 9.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 386

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.191_ 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.191_ 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.193_ Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
21.06.1940 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
30.06.1940 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
18.03.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann and Chef 9.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 386 / 218.Infanterie-Division. Awarded for his actions during the siege of Cholm, as described in the following wartime excerpt: “Hauptmann Biecker has ruthlessly fended off countless attacks while serving as the commander of the main strongpoint on the eastern road for over 6 weeks. Yesterday morning he and his men used hand grenades to defeat a tank-supported Russian demolition group that was striking against the GPU building, and on this morning he eliminated a Soviet company that had entered into the GPU building while being covered by tanks. These deeds have been decisive for the holding of Cholm.”
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (posthumously)
00.00.1942 Cholmschild (posthumously)

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Albert Biecker was born on September 15, 1897 in Attendorn/Westphalia and served in the Prussian army from August 24, 1914 to February 16, 1919.

From February 7th, 1938 to March 8th, 1938 with the head of training (AL) Berlin 3, he came to Wusterhausen/Dosse in the course of mobilization on August 26th, 1939 in the 12th company of the 386th Infantry Regiment, with which he took part in the Polish campaign.

Transferred to the 9th company at the end of the fighting, involved in securing the western border and after the fighting in France, on June 23, 1940 to the staff of the III. Transferred to battalions, he took over the post of commander of the 9th company shortly after the start of the eastern campaign on June 28, 1941.

After the German units were encircled in the Cholm pocket, Biecker took over the defense of the main base on Oststrasse and repelled countless attacks there. He successfully repels a Russian demolition squad, supported by tanks, which had penetrated the GPU building, and a Soviet company, also with tank support, which also had the GPU building as a target. This was crucial in holding the defensive lines of the Cholm stronghold. For this he was awarded the Knight's Cross on March 18, 1942. The award was presented by Major General Theodor Scherer.

In the course of further fighting, Albert Biecker falls on May 1, 1942 in the Cholm area.



Picture of Albert Biecker with the added Ritterkreuz.


Generalmajor Theodor Scherer (Kommandeur Kampfgruppe Scherer) awards his friend Hauptmann Dipl.-Ing. Albert Biecker (Chef 9.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 386 / 218.Infanterie-Division) with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in recognition of his tremendous leadership in combat inside the Cholm Pocket, March 20, 1942. Only five weeks later Hauptmann Biecker would be killed in action inside the still-besieged Cholm. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Richard Muck of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 501. Other picture from the same series can be seen HERE.


The grave of Ritterkreuzträger Hauptmann Dipl.-Ing. Albert Biecker (Chef 9.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 386 / 218.Infanterie-Division) in Cholm, near Leningrad. On 1 May 1942 the besieged town of Cholm received a large Soviet assault. The artillery fire barrage lasted one hour and then followed the infantry, wave after wave, supported by tanks. The Russians approached up to a few hundred meters from the Lowat's shore, but could not overcome the last 100 meters. The Stukas attacked. From the outside the German artillery opened fire. The infantry of Cholm, veterans of the First World War and the youth fought for their survival. In the end the Russian effort were failed, but it cost the life of Hauptmann Biecker, who just earned the Ritterkreuz five weeks previously! He fell over the GPU's prison, one of the 70 German soldiers there who died after the Soviet artillery fired more than 3,000 shells on the fortress.


Source :
Bundesarchiv photo collection
"Besieged: The Epic Battle For Cholm" by Jason D. Mark
"Kampfgruppe Scherer: 105 Tage im Kessel von Cholm. Zeitgeschichte im Bild" by Richard Muck
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Biecker,_Albert
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ritterkreuztraeger.info%2Frk%2Fb%2FB294Biecker-Albert.pdf&psig=AOvVaw30GjFfkDJ7GKl37iirVDAg&ust=1692018276865000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=2ahUKEwjx54S02dmAAxV0m2MGHcVgDUUQr4kDegQIARA3
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister//B/BieckerA.htm
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28436/Biecker-Albert.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20110105190004fw_/http://ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/B/Biecker-Albert.htm

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