Michaelis, Hans Klaus.

Michaelis, Hans Klaus, born 10-09-1910 in Hesedorf im Kreis Bremervörde, as son of a WWI Vizefeldwebels, Sergeant and farmer. His first choice was the Naval Service, but he joined the 16^th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Hansiatic Battalion on 08-10-1928, in Bremen. In 1930 he was transferred as a torpedo sailor to the Navy. Michaelis remained in the new Reichswehr   and became a Leutnant in the 37^th Infantry Regiment. Michaelis was involved in the Poland and France invasion as a rifle Company Chief and in Operation Barbarossa   as a Machine Gun Company Chief in the 184^th Infantry Regiment. For bravery he received the Iron cross  on 23-06-1940 and as Oberleutnant commander of the II Battalion of the 184^th Infantry Regiment. He would be soon the commander of the 184^th Regiment on 01-07-1943 and on 28-02-1942 he was awarded with the German Cross in Gold.  On 13-10-1943 as a Major he received the Iron Cross of the Iron Cross for fighting with his regiment in the region of Isbitschni against 3 Soviet Divisions and a Panzer Regiment with 30 US tanks type M 3 S. Leutnant General Helmuth Weidling, later General of the Artillery and Battle Commander of Berlin, he died in a Russian prison camp age 64, on 17-11-1955  offered Michaelis a Ritterkreuz for his personal intervention in the battle. On 28-02-1942 Hauptman Michaelis was awarded the German Cross in Gold, on 13-10-1943 as Major with the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross. His Knight’s Cross act dates to late summer 1943. At that time, his 86th Infantry Division in the Isbithni area faced six Soviet rifle divisions. On his Grenadier Regiment 184, which he led as a major, three Soviet divisions and a tank regiment with 30 US tanks type “M 3 S” were scheduled. On the 4th attack day, it was the 29-08-1943, the HKL threatened to be overwhelmed by the numerically superior opponent.Numerous entries and breakthroughs had already happened. The men around Michaelis fought one enemy tank after another successfully. It was thanks to the dashing, personal commitment of the regimental leader and his reserve company that the enemy, now fleeing infantry was thrown back and theBurglary could be sealed off. The brave officer did not “burn up” his soldiers by keeping the front without his heavily bled-out regiment. Soviets continue to follow suit. On 01-11-1943 promoted to Oberstleutnant and commander of the 52^nd ä Jäger Regiment with the 6^th Luftwaffen Field Division  until 30-06-1944. On 01-07-1944 he, as the youngest in the Wehrmacht, was promoted to Oberst, landed in Soviet captivity for almost five years and recognised by the Soviets as a “hero” and a character. Michaelis was a member of the National Committee of Free Germany with Field Marshal, Friedrich Paulus “Der Lord”   and General of the Artillerie, Walther von Seydlitz Kurzbach. 

Death and burial ground of Michaelis, Hans Klaus.

Released on 01-04-1949 he started as a harbour worker, but climbed up to vice president of the Seaport Bremen.It was beside it a freelance lecturer at academies and colleges for international trade and industry Customs legislation. Thus, the brave front-line soldier also proved himself in civilian life.From 1961-1966 the Oberst of the Wehrmacht Hans Michaelis made a total of 7 Wehrübungen as a reserve officer. In 1965 he became, for example, Deputy Commander of the Panzergrenadier Brigade 32 in Schwanewede. 1963, the Association of Reservists of the German Federal Armed Forces was founded. Oberst Michaelis was one of the first men there. The Landesgruppe Niedersachsen he led from 1967 to 1969. For his services to the Bundeswehr and in the Reservistenkameradschaft 6, Bremen East (today RK 6 – Roland of Bremen) was in 1990 Hans Michaelis honored with the Federal Cross of Honor in gold. He was carrier of the merit award in gold of the Union of German soldiers (VdS), whose State chairman he was for many years in Bremen until he took office a few months  Living in Bremen, Michaelis died at the age of 64, on 17-11-1955 and many people came from the whole country to honour him. He is buried with his wife Kächer, born Kahne, who died old age 85, 20-05-2001, in a family grave on the Stadtfriedhof of Hesedorf.