Franz-Eugen Betz

Franz-Eugen Betz
Born	28 October 1917 Grafenwiesen
Died	22 August 1942 (aged 24) Rzhev, Russia
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1938–42
Rank	Feldwebel (Posthumously)
Unit	Infanterie-Regiment 41
Battles/wars	World War II Annexation of the Sudetenland Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Franz-Eugen Betz^{[Note 1]} (28 October 1917 – 22 August 1942) was a highly decorated Feldwebel in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Franz-Eugen Betz was wounded on 22 August 1942 and died on the same day from his wounds. He was posthumously promoted to Feldwebel and on 30 August 1942 was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Awards and decorations

• Sudetenland Medal (1 August 1939)^[1]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (15 September 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (31 October 1941)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (7 October 1941)^[1]
• Infantry Assault Badge (19 September 1940)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal (23 July 1942)^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 August 1942 as Unteroffizier and group leader in the 7./Infanterie-Regiment 41 (motorized)^[2][3]

Notes

1. According to Scherzer, Thomas & Wegmann name is Franz-Xaver Betz.^[1][2]

References

Citations

1. Thomas & Wegmann 1987, p. 449.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 218.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 131.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1987). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 1: A–Be [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 1: A–Be] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1153-2.