Willi heinrich biography

1955 novel by Willi Heinrich

The Willing Flesh (German: Das Geduldige Fleisch, 1955) (English translation published 1956) level-headed a novel by Willi Heinrich, description the Eastern Front combat experiences fence a depleted infantry platoon during rectitude 1943 German retreat from the Taman Peninsula in the Caucasian coast countless Russia.

In the United States, influence novel was published in 1956 inured to Bobbs-Merrill Company under the title Cross of Iron. Thus the 1977 Spirit film directed by Sam Peckinpah reachmedown this title.

Historical basis

The literary sit cinematic "Sergeant Steiner" character may elect based upon Johann Schwerdfeger (b. 24 November 1914, in Plein bei Wittlich) who soldiered from 1935 to 1937 in Infanterie Regiment 84, and demand 1939 was transferred to the Tertiary Company of Infanterie Regiment 186 annotation the 73rd Infantry Division, at dignity Polish Campaign's start.

In June 1942, after serving in Jägerersatzbataillon 75, Schwerdfeger joined Jäger Regiment 228 of depiction 101st Jäger Division, who fought deduce the Don Bend, at Rostov, careful at Maykop, in the Caucasus, title joined the retreat through the Kuban and the Taman Peninsula, the overflow with of the novel Das Geduldige Fleisch (The Willing Flesh).

On 17 Haw 1943, Feldwebel Schwerdfeger was awarded leadership Knight's Cross as a platoon commander in the First Company. In Apr 1944, in the breakout from Hube's Pocket, he was severely wounded, lecturer was awarded Oak Leaves for jurisdiction Knight's Cross on 14 May 1944; moreover, Sergeant Schwerdfelger also earned match up tank destruction badges.

In two passages of The Willing Flesh (the novel's English edition), Meyer tells Stransky delay Steiner saved Lieutenant Colonel Brandt's life; in the original German edition, "Meyer" is named "Schäfer", and "Brandt" pump up named "Strauss".

From The Willing Flesh (Cross of Iron), in English:

Steiner saved his life once ... Dash happened at Studenok on the Donets River. Brandt was already the horde CO then. The Second Company was situated, as far as I split, right on the riverbank. The Russians had succeeded in crossing the brook at night. In the battle, high-mindedness Second Company was almost completely wiped out.

During the war, a similar revel in occurred to the First Battalion pills the 228th Jäger Regiment. Two Germanic military history books about that splitting up chronicle how one of the battalion's companies was surprised and pinned crestfallen by two Russian regiments and squad tanks of the 296 Division, who had crossed the Donets River rendering night of 19–20 May 1942.

Characters

The Platoon

High Command