However, Heinrich Severloh's claim is not viewed as credible by either US or German historians.
10 Facts About Heinrich Severloh
1.
2.
Heinrich Severloh was born into a farming family in Metzingen in the Luneburg Heath area of North Germany, close to the small city of Celle.
3.
In October 1943, Heinrich Severloh was sent for non-commissioned officer training in Brunswick, but was recalled after less than a month to rejoin his unit which had been reclassified as the 352nd Infantry Division and was stationed in Normandy.
4.
Heinrich Severloh was part of WN-62, the largest strongpoint defending Omaha Beach.
5.
Heinrich Severloh was assigned to a Senior Lieutenant Bernhard Frerking as an orderly.
6.
Heinrich Severloh claimed to have fired over 13,500 rounds with the machine gun and 400 with the rifles.
7.
Heinrich Severloh retreated to the nearby village of Colleville-sur-Mer with Kurt Warnecke where they surrendered the next day.
8.
Heinrich Severloh was first sent as a prisoner of war to Boston, United States.
9.
Heinrich Severloh was returned to Germany in March 1947 after his father wrote to the British military authorities saying he was needed to work back on the farm.
10.
Heinrich Severloh died 14 January 2006 in Lachendorf near his home village of Metzingen, aged 82.