Hans Bauer (SS officer)

Hans Bauer
Born	(1919-03-12)12 March 1919 Hamburg, Germany
Died	Hamburg, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	Obersturmführer
Commands held	SS-Panzergrenadier-Batallion 506
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans Bauer (12 March 1919 – 30 March 1983) was an Obersturmführer in 6th SS Mountain Division Nord and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 April 1945. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Bauer completed his compulsory Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service) from 1 April 1939 to 10 October 1939. On 11 October 1939, he joined the Waffen-SS with the "Germania" Hamburg-Langenhorn. On 26 April 1941 he transferred to the 2. Kompanie (2nd company) of the SS-Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung. Bauer attended the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz from 1 May until 15 September 1941. On 30 January 1942, he was promoted to SS-Untersturmführer and posted to the SS-Infanterie-Regiment 7 of the SS-Division "Nord". On 20 March 1943, he transferred to SS-Schützen-Bataillon "Nord" (motorized) which was renamed to SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 506 on 6 February 1945. There he was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer on 9 November 1943 and severed as leader of the 3. Kompanie (3rd company). He was taken prisoner of war on 8 May 1945. He was held at the Zivil-Internierungslager 409 (civilian internment camp 409) in Nuremberg from 15 June 1946 until he was released on 2 September 1947.

Knight's Cross action

On 21 February 1945, SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 506 was withdrawn from its position in the area of Rothbach in the Vosges mountains. SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 506 was detached from the 6th SS Mountain Division "Nord" and on 23 February was moved to Kohlhof near Neunkirchen via Eppenbrunn and Zweibrücken. The combat vehicles of the battalion continued their journey via Lebach, Losheim to a small forest 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) east of Britten. The battalion was subordinated to the 416th Infantry Division. US forces had breached the sector defended by the 416th Infantry Division east of the Saar river near Hamm and had penetrated the Westwall. A number of German strongpoints and bunkers had been encircled by US forces. In addition to his 3rd company, Bauer was put in command of 1st company of SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 506 and two further companies of the Heer (German Army), and tasked with closing the breach. Attacking in the early morning hours, Bauer and his men, pushed the US forces back and closed the gap. Under heavy losses, he held his position until a new line of defense had been established. For these actions Bauer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes).

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (8 July 1944)
  • 1st Class (4 November 1944)
• Close Combat Clasp in Silver
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 April 1945 as SS-Obersturmführer and leader of the 3./SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 506

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