Rudolf Bacherer
Rudolf Bacherer | |
---|---|
Born |
Pforzheim | 19 June 1895
Died |
6 July 1964 69) Bad Krozingen | (aged
Allegiance |
German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1919) Nazi Germany |
Service/branch | Heer |
Years of service |
1914–19 1935–45 |
Rank | Oberst of the Reserves |
Commands held |
Infanterie-Regiment 234 Grenadier-Regiment 234 Infanterie-Regiment 1026 Grenadier-Regiment 1049 |
Battles/wars |
|
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Rudolf Bacherer (19 June 1895 – 6 July 1964) was a highly decorated Oberst of the Reserves in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held several regimental commands. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
In June 1944 Bacherer was commanding the 1049th Infantry Regiment on the Western Front when Major General Rudolf Stegmann, commander of the 77th Infantry Division was killed in American air raid. Bacherer was immediately promoted to command the Division and enjoyed some early successes, capturing 250 American prisoners on 17 June and the following day broke through US lines to link up with the remnants of the LXXXIV Corps near La Haye-du-Puits.[1] The Division however, which was already understrength when Bacherer made his advance soon suffered heavy losses as the Americans forged ahead.[2] Bacherer was captured by American forces following the fall of Saint-Malo in 1944 and was held as a POW until 1947.
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1914)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
- Wound Badge
- in Black
- Eastern Front Medal
- German Cross in Gold on 29 January 1942 as Rittmeister of the Reserves in Aufklärungs-Abteilung 156[4]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (10 July 1944)
References
Citations
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.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.