Heinz Joachim Kiwi

Private, Pioneer Corps
Service no: 13803339
Died 29 Dec 1940
Buried Willesden Jewish Cemetery, United Kingdom
Age 22


Heinz was born on 15 July 1918 in Birnbaum, Germany to Julius and Selma nee Saalfeld and he had an older sister Ilsa. Julius worked as a furniture manufacturer and Heinz was an agent for the company. In 1939 the family lived at 145 Chatsworth Road in Willesden and records show that they were classed as enemy aliens who were exempted from internment.

Heinz enlisted in the Pioneer Corps and was on duty when he was killed by enemy bombing. His body was found on the Peckham Road outside the town hall. His father Julius died seven months later and an obituary in the Jewish Chronicle stated that he died from a broken heart mourning for his son.

Four other members of the Pioneer Corps were also killed that night. Between 6pm on the night of the 29th and the early hours of the following morning, more than 24,000 high explosive bombs and 100,000 incendiary bombs were dropped. It was the largest continuous area of Blitz destruction in Britain. It stretched south from Islington to the edge of St Paul’s Churchyard. German planning had the raid coincide with a particularly low tide on the River Thames, making it difficult to obtain water for firefighting.

The others killed were Solomon Buchsbaum, Emil Mesner, Heinz Goldstein and Gerhard Neumann.


Heinz death certificate