A War Merit Cross group of three to S.S.-Rottenführer Sebastian Heinrich, 9th S.S. Totenkopf Infantry Regiment

Germany, Third Reich, War Merit Cross 1939, 2nd Class with swords; Wound Badge, black grade; Social Welfare Medal, good very fine (3) £100-140

Sebastian Heinrich was born on 12 November 1912 in Leidling near Neuburg. He served from November 1939 until February 1942 in the S.S. Totenkopf Infantry Regiment 9 (renamed in November 1940 as the S.S. Infantry Regiment 9 (Motorised)). The unit operated in Norway and Northern Finland, some time under command of the army (2 Geb. Div.) and at other times as part of the S.S. Kampfgruppe Nord. Heinrich was promoted to Rottenführer (Corporal) on 30 January 1941. On 1 November 1941 he was injured, receiving a bullet wound to the arm and was repatriated to Germany. Apparently never fully recovering, he was transferred in November 1942 to the Rasse und Siedlungshauptamt S.S. (Race and Resettlement Department) where he served as driver. The S.S. department was responsible for resettling (deporting, enslaving or executing) ‘inferior’ races from the occupied eastern territories. Sold with the recipient’s original Wehrpass, dated 7 November 1939 which confirms his awards, the War Merit Cross being authorised on 23 November 1941, the Wound Badge on 28 March 1942 and the Social Welfare Medal on 30 September 1944.