Franz Bäke
Encyclopedia
Generalmajor der Reserve Dr. med. dent. Franz BäkeIn German a Doctor of Medical Dentistry
is abbreviated as Dr. med. dent. (Doctor medicinae dentariae). (28 February 1898 – 12 December 1978) was a German
Army
officer and panzer
ace. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Bäke fought during World War I
, but rose to fame for his command of heavy Panzer forces in World War II
. A reservist, Bäke was a dentist
in civilian life, having received his Doctorate
in Dental Medicine in 1923.
(a part of Sinntal
, Main-Kinzig-Kreis
, Hesse
) in the kreis
of Fulda
in Hesse-Nassau. After attending school and receiving excellent grades, Bäke planned on a career in medicine. In August 1914, the outbreak of World War I
changed his plans. In May 1915, Bäke volunteered for the German Army
. He was posted to Infanterie-Regiment Nr.3, based in Köln
. After basic training, Bäke was transferred to Infanterie-Regiment Nr.11, which was in action on the Western Front
. During his service with IR11 he was awarded the Iron Cross
2nd class for bravery in combat in the battles near Verdun
for the towns of Fleury
and Thiaumont.
In mid-1916, Bäke accepted an offer to become an officer candidate and was briefly transferred to Infanterie-Regiment Nr.10. In November 1916 Bäke was transferred to the artillery
arm and served with Artillerie-Regiment zu Fuß Nr.7. In early 1918 he was wounded twice and was only returned to the front in September. After the armistice
, Bäke remained in the army until his demobilisation in January 1919.
, he was involved with Freikorps Epp
, but soon turned his full attention to his studies. In 1922 he passed the state examination, and in 1923 received his doctorate in Dental Medicine, receiving the Dr.med.dent. professional prefix to his name. After receiving his credentials, Bäke established his own dentistry practice in Hagen
, which became quite successful.
Bäke remained immersed in his dental practice during the tumultuous events of 1933 to 1936, but in early 1937 he applied to join the reserves, being accepted on 1 April 1937. Bäke was given his World War I rank of officer cadet and posted to Aufklärungs
-Abteilung
6, a reconnaissance unit. He took part in large scale maneuvers in late April 1937. He was again called to participate in large scale maneuvers which took place in June 1937. After these two major exercises, Bäke returned to his dentistry practice, spending the required time in reserve training to achieve the rank of Leutnant der Reserve [2nd Lieutenant] by December 1937. Soon after this, he was mobilized for full time service as an officer.
On 1 January 1938, Bäke was transferred to Panzer-Abteilung 65, where he served as platoon
leader of the Abt's light column. During the bloodless Invasion of the Sudetenland, he acted as the deputy company commander for 3./Panzer-Abteilung 65.
, he acted as the leader of the light column during the initial operations, before transferring to a platoon command in the Abteilung's second company. Equipped with the Czech
-made Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) tanks, the Abteilung was attached to General der Panzertruppen Werner Kempf's
1. leichte-Division on 12 September, and completed the campaign serving under Kempf's formation, known as Panzer-Division Kempf
. Bäke showed promise as a Panzer leader during the campaign and on 1 November 1939 was promoted to Oberleutnant der Reserve
[1st Lieutenant] and appointed company commander. In October 1939, the 1. Leichte-Division was redesignated 6. Panzer-Division. Panzer-Abt 65 formed an integral part of this new division. On 1 May 1940 Bäke was promoted to Hauptmann der Reserve
[Captain].
On 10 May 1940, Bäke and 6.Panzer took part in Fall Gelb, the invasion of France. 6.Panzer formed a part of Panzergruppe Guderian, an army-sized formation charged with attacking through the Ardennes
and encircling the allied forces involved in combat in Belgium
. During the blitzkrieg
campaign, Bäke, in command of 1.Kompanie, seized an undamaged bridge over the Meuse
at Arques
. In the following weeks in combat, he was wounded twice (on 17 and 19 May), receiving the Wound Badge
in gold. For his actions in securing the bridge, Bäke was awarded the Iron Cross first class.
, where it undertook refitting in preparation for the coming offensive against the Soviet Union
. Bäke was appointed to the staff of 6. Panzer's Panzer-Regiment 11, being responsible for the recovery of damaged tanks. With the launch of Operation Barbarossa
on 22 June 1941, 6.Panzer took part in Army Group North's
strike towards Leningrad
, being involved in heavy fighting. On 1 August 1941, Bäke was promoted to Major der Reserve
.
The job of a tank recovery unit was both difficult and dangerous. Generally under the cover of darkness, damaged or abandoned tanks had to be reached and towed back to the division's maintenance area where they could be repaired. Abandoned and damaged tanks were most frequently located close to the enemy, and so care had to be taken to make as little noise as possible. The German panzer recovery system was very effective early in the war, with tanks being recovered, repaired and ready for action in as short a time as 24 hours.
In October 1941, the 6.Panzer was transferred to Army Group Centre
where it formed a part of Panzergruppe 3, commanded by General Georg-Hans Reinhardt
. The Panzergruppe was tasked with Operation Typhoon, an offensive aimed at the capture of Moscow
. On 27 November, elements of the Panzergruppe reached the Volga canal, only 19 miles from Moscow. Soviet resistance hardened, and the offensive failed.
In November 1941, Bäke was appointed to the position of Ordonnanz-Offizier for Panzer-Regiment 11. The Ordonnanz-Offizier was responsible for the completion of special missions required by the division. This position required Bäke to lead ad-hoc Kampfgruppe
n in dangerous and vital missions. The 6.Panzer ended the campaign as a part of General Erich Höpner's Panzergruppe 4, acting as a reserve for Army Group Centre forces attempting to hold the line against fierce Soviet counterattacks. The division's tanks and men suffered greatly from the cold, but despite this they managed to continue to operate throughout the winter of 1941/42.
to be rested and rebuilt. On 1 June 1942, Bäke was promoted to commander of II./Abteilung of Panzer-Regiment 11. Bäke spent the majority of 1942 overseeing the rebuilding of his shattered Abt and familiarizing himself with his new command.
After the encirclement of the German Sixth Army
at Stalingrad, the 6.Panzer, now fully reformed, was sent to Ukraine
to join Generaloberst Erich von Manstein
's Army Group Don
, currently struggling to halt the advancing Soviet forces. The division arrived at the front in December 1942 and was immediately thrown into heavy fighting, taking part in the abortive attempt to relieve the 6th Army, Operation Wintergewitter
. Bäke, commanding II./Panzer-Regiment 11, showed great skill as a tank commander, inflicting heavy losses on the advancing Soviets during the fighting withdrawal to Kharkov and preventing a large scale breakthrough. On 11 January 1943, Bäke was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
for his efforts during these battles.
The division took part in the battle to retake Kharkov. The performance of Bäke's Abt, fighting alongside the SS-Panzerkorps
and Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland, measured up to the fighting reputation of these elite units. After the destruction of Mobile Group Popov and the recapture of the city, 6.Panzer was attached to Armee-Abteilung Kempf
. During May, the division was pulled back to act as reserve when it was rested and refitted. Bäke had by now built himself a reputation as one of the army's most capable tank commanders.
In June, 6.Panzer was attached to 4.Panzer-Armee
under General Colonel Hermann Hoth
. 4.Panzer-Armee was to form the southern pincer of the attack on the Kursk
salient
, Operation Citadel. Bäke led his Abt through fierce fighting against the entrenched soviet forces near Belgorod
. On 13 July 1943 he was wounded, but remained with the unit. On 14 July, the commander of Panzer-Regiment 11 was severely wounded, and command of the regiment was temporarily delegated to Bäke. During the ferocious armored battles, Bäke led the regiment and proved himself a capable regimental commander. The offensive was cancelled on 13 August 1943, and Bäke's regiment saw heavy combat during the withdrawal to the Dniepr. For his actions during Operation Citadel, Bäke was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.
On 1 November 1943 Bäke was promoted to Oberstleutnant der Reserve
[Lieutenant Colonel] and his command of the regiment was made official. In December 1943, he was ordered to begin formation of an ad-hoc reinforced tank regiment, titled Heavy Panzer Regiment Bäke [Schweres-Panzer-Regiment Bäke]. The regiment consisted of 46 Panther
and 34 Tiger I
tanks, supported by self-propelled artillery and a mechanized engineer battalion. The Regiment was to be used in 'fire-brigade' duties in the southern sector of the Eastern front. In January 1944, Bäke commanded his regiment during the battles for the Balabonowka pocket. During the five-day battle, Bäke's regiment was credited with destroying 267 Soviet tanks for the loss of only 4 tanks . Bäke single-handedly destroyed three Soviet tanks during the battle with infantry weapons at close range, for which he received three Tank Destruction Badge
s, worn on his upper right sleeve.
Next, the regiment was sent to the area of Korsun
-Cherkassy, where Gruppe Stemmermann had been encircled in the Cherkassy Pocket. Together with a Kampfgruppe of the 1.SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Bäke's tanks opened a route of escape for the trapped Germans and held it open while many escaped. During this month his regiment was credited with the destruction of 500 soviet tanks and assault guns.
For his actions during these battles, Bäke received the Swords to the Knight's Cross on 14 February 1944 as 49th Wehrmacht soldier. In March, the regiment was trapped in the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
along with the entire 1.Panzer-Armee
. Bäke's regiment formed one of the spearheads moving west to break the encirclement, and effected a link up with II.SS-Panzerkorps
, creating an escape route for the army.
. His regiment was involved in fierce defensive battles for the rest of the month, when it was disbanded and the units sent back to their parent divisions. Bäke was ordered west to take command of 106.Panzer-Brigade Feldherrnhalle, which was undergoing formation in Baden. The Feldherrnhalle formations were formed from a cadre of ex SA
men, and as such Bäke was granted the honorary SA rank of SA-Sanitäts-Standartenführer.
The Brigade was equipped with the latest Panther models as well as a battalion of fully mechanized infantry. In battles against General George Patton's US Third Army, Bäke's brigade fought with spirit, halting several attacks and destroying many American tanks. Bäke, however, made an ill-advised attack on the U.S. 90th Infantry Division
near Aumetz on the night of September 7–8, 1944. Expecting the American infantry to rout once the German tanks were among them, Bäke's command found itself poorly deployed and under sustained counter-attack from veteran American infantry. By the evening of September 8, Bäke had lost thirty tanks, sixty half-tracks, and nearly a hundred other vehicles in the lopsided battle. His infantry losses were also heavy, with the unit reporting to OB West
that it had only nine armored vehicles and that unit strength was down to 25 per cent of the authorized establishment. Despite the brigade's efforts, the front lines were gradually pushed back.
On 1 January 1945, Bäke transferred from reserve to active duty, and as such was referred to as only Oberst. In late January, Bäke took a training course in divisional command, and on 9 March he was given command of the newly formed Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle 2
and sent to Hungary. Bäke's division fought as part of the Panzerkorps Feldherrnhalle during the retreat through Hungary and Czechoslovakia. On 20 April, Bäke was promoted to Generalmajor. He led the remnants of his division in a successful breakout attempt towards the West, and on 8 May 1945 surrendered to American forces.
Bäke spent several years as a Prisoner of War
, being released in 1950. He returned to Hagen and resumed his dental practice. He died in a car accident in 1978. The Bundeswehr
provided an honour guard at his funeral.
Dental degree
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
is abbreviated as Dr. med. dent. (Doctor medicinae dentariae). (28 February 1898 – 12 December 1978) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
officer and panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
ace. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Bäke fought during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but rose to fame for his command of heavy Panzer forces in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A reservist, Bäke was a dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
in civilian life, having received his Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Dental Medicine in 1923.
Early life - First World War
Bäke was born in SchwarzenfelsSchwarzenfels
Schwarzenfels is a village in the German municipality of Sinntal in Main-Kinzig-Kreis in the state of Hesse.The population in 2009 was 577.- References :...
(a part of Sinntal
Sinntal
Sinntal is a municipality in the Main-Kinzig district, in Hesse, Germany.It consists of the following localities:* Altengronau* Breunings* Jossa* Mottgers* Neuengronau* Oberzell with Ziegelhütte* Sannerz* Schwarzenfels* Sterbfritz...
, Main-Kinzig-Kreis
Main-Kinzig-Kreis
Main-Kinzig is a Kreis in the east of Hesse, Germany. Neighboring districts are Wetteraukreis, Vogelsbergkreis, Fulda, Bad Kissingen, Main-Spessart, Aschaffenburg, Offenbach and the district-free cities of Offenbach and Frankfurt.-History:...
, Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
) in the kreis
Districts of Germany
The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein where they are known simply as ....
of Fulda
Fulda (district)
Fulda is a Kreis in the north-east of Hesse, Germany. Neighboring districts are Hersfeld-Rotenburg, Wartburgkreis, Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Rhön-Grabfeld, Bad Kissingen, Main-Kinzig, Vogelsbergkreis.-History:...
in Hesse-Nassau. After attending school and receiving excellent grades, Bäke planned on a career in medicine. In August 1914, the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
changed his plans. In May 1915, Bäke volunteered for the German Army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
. He was posted to Infanterie-Regiment Nr.3, based in Köln
KOLN
KOLN, digital channel 10, is the CBS affiliate in Lincoln, Nebraska. It operates a satellite station, KGIN, on digital channel 11 in Grand Island. KGIN repeats all KOLN programming, but airs separate commercials...
. After basic training, Bäke was transferred to Infanterie-Regiment Nr.11, which was in action on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. During his service with IR11 he was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd class for bravery in combat in the battles near Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
for the towns of Fleury
Fleury
Fleury can refer to:* Abbo of Fleury abbot of the monastery of Fleury* Andrew of Fleury, historian from the monstery of Fleury* Cardinal André-Hercule de Fleury, Bishop of Fréjus , chief minister of Louis XV of France...
and Thiaumont.
In mid-1916, Bäke accepted an offer to become an officer candidate and was briefly transferred to Infanterie-Regiment Nr.10. In November 1916 Bäke was transferred to the artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
arm and served with Artillerie-Regiment zu Fuß Nr.7. In early 1918 he was wounded twice and was only returned to the front in September. After the armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
, Bäke remained in the army until his demobilisation in January 1919.
Inter-War years
After his release from military service, Bäke returned to his studies in medicine. During his first semester in universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, he was involved with Freikorps Epp
Freikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
, but soon turned his full attention to his studies. In 1922 he passed the state examination, and in 1923 received his doctorate in Dental Medicine, receiving the Dr.med.dent. professional prefix to his name. After receiving his credentials, Bäke established his own dentistry practice in Hagen
Hagen
Hagen is the 39th-largest city in Germany, located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Ruhr area, 15 km south of Dortmund, where the rivers Lenne, Volme and Ennepe meet the river Ruhr...
, which became quite successful.
Bäke remained immersed in his dental practice during the tumultuous events of 1933 to 1936, but in early 1937 he applied to join the reserves, being accepted on 1 April 1937. Bäke was given his World War I rank of officer cadet and posted to Aufklärungs
Aufklärungsabteilung
An Aufklärungsabteilung was an Abteilung sized reconnaissance unit attached to a German division during the Second World War.The Aufklärungsabteilung was the eyes and ears of the parent division...
-Abteilung
Abteilung
Abteilung is a German language word often used when referring to German or Swiss military formations...
6, a reconnaissance unit. He took part in large scale maneuvers in late April 1937. He was again called to participate in large scale maneuvers which took place in June 1937. After these two major exercises, Bäke returned to his dentistry practice, spending the required time in reserve training to achieve the rank of Leutnant der Reserve [2nd Lieutenant] by December 1937. Soon after this, he was mobilized for full time service as an officer.
On 1 January 1938, Bäke was transferred to Panzer-Abteilung 65, where he served as platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
leader of the Abt's light column. During the bloodless Invasion of the Sudetenland, he acted as the deputy company commander for 3./Panzer-Abteilung 65.
Early war campaigns
With the outbreak of war on 1 September 1939, Bäke was still serving with Panzer-Abteilung 65. During the Invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
, he acted as the leader of the light column during the initial operations, before transferring to a platoon command in the Abteilung's second company. Equipped with the Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
-made Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) tanks, the Abteilung was attached to General der Panzertruppen Werner Kempf's
Werner Kempf
General Werner Kempf was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ....
1. leichte-Division on 12 September, and completed the campaign serving under Kempf's formation, known as Panzer-Division Kempf
German Panzer Division Kempf
The East Prussia Panzer Unit was an ad hoc combined arms unit created for operations out of East Prussia during the Invasion of Poland in 1939...
. Bäke showed promise as a Panzer leader during the campaign and on 1 November 1939 was promoted to Oberleutnant der Reserve
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
[1st Lieutenant] and appointed company commander. In October 1939, the 1. Leichte-Division was redesignated 6. Panzer-Division. Panzer-Abt 65 formed an integral part of this new division. On 1 May 1940 Bäke was promoted to Hauptmann der Reserve
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
[Captain].
On 10 May 1940, Bäke and 6.Panzer took part in Fall Gelb, the invasion of France. 6.Panzer formed a part of Panzergruppe Guderian, an army-sized formation charged with attacking through the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
and encircling the allied forces involved in combat in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. During the blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg
For other uses of the word, see: Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg is an anglicized word describing all-motorised force concentration of tanks, infantry, artillery, combat engineers and air power, concentrating overwhelming force at high speed to break through enemy lines, and, once the lines are broken,...
campaign, Bäke, in command of 1.Kompanie, seized an undamaged bridge over the Meuse
Meuse
Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
at Arques
Arques
Arques may refer to the following places in France:* Arques, Aude, in the Aude département* Arques, Aveyron, in the Aveyron département* Arques, Pas-de-Calais, in the Pas-de-Calais département...
. In the following weeks in combat, he was wounded twice (on 17 and 19 May), receiving the Wound Badge
Wound Badge
Wound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in gold. For his actions in securing the bridge, Bäke was awarded the Iron Cross first class.
Barbarossa - Typhoon
Following the campaign in the West, 6.Panzer was moved to East PrussiaEast Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
, where it undertook refitting in preparation for the coming offensive against the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Bäke was appointed to the staff of 6. Panzer's Panzer-Regiment 11, being responsible for the recovery of damaged tanks. With the launch of Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
on 22 June 1941, 6.Panzer took part in Army Group North's
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
strike towards Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, being involved in heavy fighting. On 1 August 1941, Bäke was promoted to Major der Reserve
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
.
The job of a tank recovery unit was both difficult and dangerous. Generally under the cover of darkness, damaged or abandoned tanks had to be reached and towed back to the division's maintenance area where they could be repaired. Abandoned and damaged tanks were most frequently located close to the enemy, and so care had to be taken to make as little noise as possible. The German panzer recovery system was very effective early in the war, with tanks being recovered, repaired and ready for action in as short a time as 24 hours.
In October 1941, the 6.Panzer was transferred to Army Group Centre
Army Group Centre
Army Group Centre was the name of two distinct German strategic army groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created on 22 June 1941, as one of three German Army formations assigned to the invasion of the Soviet Union...
where it formed a part of Panzergruppe 3, commanded by General Georg-Hans Reinhardt
Georg-Hans Reinhardt
Georg-Hans Reinhardt was a German general of World War II. He commanded Third Panzer Army from 1941 to 1944, and Army Group Centre in 1944 and 1945. His highest rank was Generaloberst . He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
. The Panzergruppe was tasked with Operation Typhoon, an offensive aimed at the capture of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. On 27 November, elements of the Panzergruppe reached the Volga canal, only 19 miles from Moscow. Soviet resistance hardened, and the offensive failed.
In November 1941, Bäke was appointed to the position of Ordonnanz-Offizier for Panzer-Regiment 11. The Ordonnanz-Offizier was responsible for the completion of special missions required by the division. This position required Bäke to lead ad-hoc Kampfgruppe
Kampfgruppe
In military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
n in dangerous and vital missions. The 6.Panzer ended the campaign as a part of General Erich Höpner's Panzergruppe 4, acting as a reserve for Army Group Centre forces attempting to hold the line against fierce Soviet counterattacks. The division's tanks and men suffered greatly from the cold, but despite this they managed to continue to operate throughout the winter of 1941/42.
Refit - stabilizing the Eastern Front
After the defensive battles near Moscow during the winter, the severely depleted 6.Panzer was ordered back to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to be rested and rebuilt. On 1 June 1942, Bäke was promoted to commander of II./Abteilung of Panzer-Regiment 11. Bäke spent the majority of 1942 overseeing the rebuilding of his shattered Abt and familiarizing himself with his new command.
After the encirclement of the German Sixth Army
German Sixth Army
The 6th Army was a designation for German field armies which saw action in World War I and World War II. The 6th Army is best known for fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad, during which it became the first entire German field army to be completely destroyed...
at Stalingrad, the 6.Panzer, now fully reformed, was sent to Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
to join Generaloberst Erich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein was a field marshal in World War II. He became one of the most prominent commanders of Germany's World War II armed forces...
's Army Group Don
Army Group Don
Army Group Don was a short-lived German army group during World War II.Army Group Don was created from the headquarters of the Eleventh Army in the southern sector of the Eastern Front on 22 November 1942. The army group only lasted until February 1943 when it was combined with Army Group B and...
, currently struggling to halt the advancing Soviet forces. The division arrived at the front in December 1942 and was immediately thrown into heavy fighting, taking part in the abortive attempt to relieve the 6th Army, Operation Wintergewitter
Operation Wintergewitter
Operation Winter Storm was a German offensive in World War II, undertaken between 12–23 December 1942, in which the German 4th Panzer-Armee failed to break the encirclement of Axis forces during the Battle of Stalingrad....
. Bäke, commanding II./Panzer-Regiment 11, showed great skill as a tank commander, inflicting heavy losses on the advancing Soviets during the fighting withdrawal to Kharkov and preventing a large scale breakthrough. On 11 January 1943, Bäke was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
for his efforts during these battles.
The division took part in the battle to retake Kharkov. The performance of Bäke's Abt, fighting alongside the SS-Panzerkorps
II SS Panzer Corps
The II SS Panzer Corps was a Nazi German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II.- Formation - Kharkov :...
and Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland, measured up to the fighting reputation of these elite units. After the destruction of Mobile Group Popov and the recapture of the city, 6.Panzer was attached to Armee-Abteilung Kempf
German Army Detachment Kempf
German Army Detachment Kempf ' was a Wehrmacht formation on the Eastern Front during World War II. Part of Army Group South, Detachment Kempf saw action during Operation Citadel , the German attempt to cut off the Kursk salient and crush the large part of the Russian army...
. During May, the division was pulled back to act as reserve when it was rested and refitted. Bäke had by now built himself a reputation as one of the army's most capable tank commanders.
Kursk - Panzer-Regiment Bäke
German Fourth Panzer Army
The 4th Panzer Army was, before being designated a full army, the Panzer Group 4 , a German panzer army that saw action during World War II. Its units played a part in the invasion of France, and then on the Eastern Front.-Early history:The 4th Panzer Group's predecessor was the XVI Corps formed...
under General Colonel Hermann Hoth
Hermann Hoth
Hermann "Papa" Hoth was an officer in the German military from 1903 to 1945. He attained the rank of Generaloberst during World War II. He fought in France, but is most noted for his later exploits as a panzer commander on the Eastern Front...
. 4.Panzer-Armee was to form the southern pincer of the attack on the Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
salient
Salient
Salient may refer to:* See Salients, re-entrants and pockets for the battlefield feature* Salient , part of a discrete territory projecting out of the main portion, bordered by foreign territory on three sides, into which it projects...
, Operation Citadel. Bäke led his Abt through fierce fighting against the entrenched soviet forces near Belgorod
Belgorod
-Twin towns/sister cities:Belgorod is twinned with: Wakefield, England, United Kingdom Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia Opole, Poland Vyshhorod, Ukraine Kharkiv, Ukraine-External links:...
. On 13 July 1943 he was wounded, but remained with the unit. On 14 July, the commander of Panzer-Regiment 11 was severely wounded, and command of the regiment was temporarily delegated to Bäke. During the ferocious armored battles, Bäke led the regiment and proved himself a capable regimental commander. The offensive was cancelled on 13 August 1943, and Bäke's regiment saw heavy combat during the withdrawal to the Dniepr. For his actions during Operation Citadel, Bäke was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.
On 1 November 1943 Bäke was promoted to Oberstleutnant der Reserve
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
[Lieutenant Colonel] and his command of the regiment was made official. In December 1943, he was ordered to begin formation of an ad-hoc reinforced tank regiment, titled Heavy Panzer Regiment Bäke [Schweres-Panzer-Regiment Bäke]. The regiment consisted of 46 Panther
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
and 34 Tiger I
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
tanks, supported by self-propelled artillery and a mechanized engineer battalion. The Regiment was to be used in 'fire-brigade' duties in the southern sector of the Eastern front. In January 1944, Bäke commanded his regiment during the battles for the Balabonowka pocket. During the five-day battle, Bäke's regiment was credited with destroying 267 Soviet tanks for the loss of only 4 tanks . Bäke single-handedly destroyed three Soviet tanks during the battle with infantry weapons at close range, for which he received three Tank Destruction Badge
Tank Destruction Badge
The Tank Destruction Badge was an award given to individuals of the Wehrmacht who destroyed an enemy tank single-handedly by an hand-held weapon. Anti-tank units were not eligible for this award...
s, worn on his upper right sleeve.
Next, the regiment was sent to the area of Korsun
Korsun
Korsun may refer to:People*Nikolai Georgiyevich Korsun , a Soviet military historian*Nikolai Nesterovich Korsun , a Soviet army officer and Hero of the Soviet Union...
-Cherkassy, where Gruppe Stemmermann had been encircled in the Cherkassy Pocket. Together with a Kampfgruppe of the 1.SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Bäke's tanks opened a route of escape for the trapped Germans and held it open while many escaped. During this month his regiment was credited with the destruction of 500 soviet tanks and assault guns.
For his actions during these battles, Bäke received the Swords to the Knight's Cross on 14 February 1944 as 49th Wehrmacht soldier. In March, the regiment was trapped in the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
The Battle of the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket, also known as Hube's Pocket, was a Wehrmacht attempt on the Eastern Front of World War II to evade encirclement by the Red Army....
along with the entire 1.Panzer-Armee
German First Panzer Army
The 1st Panzer Army was a German tank army that was a large armoured formation within the Wehrmacht Heer field forces during World War II.-Formation:...
. Bäke's regiment formed one of the spearheads moving west to break the encirclement, and effected a link up with II.SS-Panzerkorps
II SS Panzer Corps
The II SS Panzer Corps was a Nazi German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II.- Formation - Kharkov :...
, creating an escape route for the army.
Feldherrnhalle commands
On 1 May 1944, Bäke was promoted to Oberst der ReserveOberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
. His regiment was involved in fierce defensive battles for the rest of the month, when it was disbanded and the units sent back to their parent divisions. Bäke was ordered west to take command of 106.Panzer-Brigade Feldherrnhalle, which was undergoing formation in Baden. The Feldherrnhalle formations were formed from a cadre of ex SA
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
men, and as such Bäke was granted the honorary SA rank of SA-Sanitäts-Standartenführer.
The Brigade was equipped with the latest Panther models as well as a battalion of fully mechanized infantry. In battles against General George Patton's US Third Army, Bäke's brigade fought with spirit, halting several attacks and destroying many American tanks. Bäke, however, made an ill-advised attack on the U.S. 90th Infantry Division
U.S. 90th Infantry Division
The 90th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army that served in World War I and World War II.Its heraldic descendant is the 90th Sustainment Brigade.-World War I:*Activated: August 1917.*Overseas: June 1918....
near Aumetz on the night of September 7–8, 1944. Expecting the American infantry to rout once the German tanks were among them, Bäke's command found itself poorly deployed and under sustained counter-attack from veteran American infantry. By the evening of September 8, Bäke had lost thirty tanks, sixty half-tracks, and nearly a hundred other vehicles in the lopsided battle. His infantry losses were also heavy, with the unit reporting to OB West
OB West
The German Army Command in the West The German Army Command in the West The German Army Command in the West (Oberbefehlshaber West (German: initials OB West) was the overall command of the Westheer, the German Armed Forces on the Western Front during World War II. It was directly subordinate to...
that it had only nine armored vehicles and that unit strength was down to 25 per cent of the authorized establishment. Despite the brigade's efforts, the front lines were gradually pushed back.
On 1 January 1945, Bäke transferred from reserve to active duty, and as such was referred to as only Oberst. In late January, Bäke took a training course in divisional command, and on 9 March he was given command of the newly formed Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle 2
Panzer Corps Feldherrnhalle
The Panzerkorps Feldherrnhalle was a German panzer corps formed in October 1944 from the remaining troops of the IV. Armeekorps, the Storm Division Rhodos and Panzer-Grenadier-Brigade 17 formed mostly of SA recruits....
and sent to Hungary. Bäke's division fought as part of the Panzerkorps Feldherrnhalle during the retreat through Hungary and Czechoslovakia. On 20 April, Bäke was promoted to Generalmajor. He led the remnants of his division in a successful breakout attempt towards the West, and on 8 May 1945 surrendered to American forces.
Bäke spent several years as a Prisoner of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, being released in 1950. He returned to Hagen and resumed his dental practice. He died in a car accident in 1978. The Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
provided an honour guard at his funeral.
Awards
- Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Gold - Panzer BadgePanzer BadgeThe Panzer Badge was a German medal awarded to armour troops during World War II. It was introduced during World War II in December 1939 .- History :The Tank Combat Badge, or Panzer Badge, first existed in the German Army during World War I, and was later...
in Gold (4th Class) - 3 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual CombatantsTank Destruction BadgeThe Tank Destruction Badge was an award given to individuals of the Wehrmacht who destroyed an enemy tank single-handedly by an hand-held weapon. Anti-tank units were not eligible for this award...
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939) 2nd and 1st Class - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and SwordsKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 11 January 1943 as MajorMajor (Germany)Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
of the Reserves and commander of the II./Panzer-Regiment 11 - 262nd Oak Leaves on 1 August 1943 as Major of the Reserves and commander of the II./Panzer-Regiment 11
- 49th Swords on 21 February 1944 as OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
of the Reserves and commander of Panzer-Regiment 11
- Knight's Cross on 11 January 1943 as Major
- Mentioned three times in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
External links
- Names, scores and pictures of the top Tiger commanders at the Tiger I Information Center
- Bäke, Franz Lexikon-der-Wehrmacht German Language site.
- Franz Bake Ritterkreuztrraeger German Language site.
- Franz Bäke - Achtung Panzer.com
- World War II Awards