Post by ww2pictures on Aug 3, 2007 9:37:09 GMT 1
Generalmajor der Reserve Dr.med.dent Franz Bäke
(28 February 1898 - 12 December 1978) was a German Army officer and panzer ace. 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, receiving his Doctorate in Dental Medicine in 1923.
On 1 November 1943 Bäke was promoted to oberstleutnant der reserve 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 schwere-Panzer-Regiment Bäke. The regiment consisted of large numbers of Panther and Tiger 1 tanks, supported by self-propelled artillery and a mechanised 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 one Tiger and four Panthers. Bäke single-handedly destroyed three Soviet tanks during the battle with infantry weapons at close range, for which he received three Tank Destruction Ribbons, worn on his upper right sleeve.
Oberst der Reserve Dr.med.dent. Franz Bäke in command of schwere-Panzer-Regiment Bäke, 1944.Next, the regiment was sent to the area of Korsun-Cherkassy, where Gruppe Stemmermann had been encircled in the Cherkassy Pocket. Together with the 1.SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Bäke's regiment was thrown into action to open an escape corridor. During the battles, Bäke's tanks opened a route of escape for the trapped Germans and held it open while many escaped.
For his actions during these battles, Bäke received the Swords to the Knight's Cross on 14 February 1944. 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.
Bäke single-handedly destroyed three Soviet tanks during the battle with infantry weapons at close range, for which he received three Tank Destruction Ribbons, worn on his upper right sleeve
(28 February 1898 - 12 December 1978) was a German Army officer and panzer ace. 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, receiving his Doctorate in Dental Medicine in 1923.
On 1 November 1943 Bäke was promoted to oberstleutnant der reserve 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 schwere-Panzer-Regiment Bäke. The regiment consisted of large numbers of Panther and Tiger 1 tanks, supported by self-propelled artillery and a mechanised 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 one Tiger and four Panthers. Bäke single-handedly destroyed three Soviet tanks during the battle with infantry weapons at close range, for which he received three Tank Destruction Ribbons, worn on his upper right sleeve.
Oberst der Reserve Dr.med.dent. Franz Bäke in command of schwere-Panzer-Regiment Bäke, 1944.Next, the regiment was sent to the area of Korsun-Cherkassy, where Gruppe Stemmermann had been encircled in the Cherkassy Pocket. Together with the 1.SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Bäke's regiment was thrown into action to open an escape corridor. During the battles, Bäke's tanks opened a route of escape for the trapped Germans and held it open while many escaped.
For his actions during these battles, Bäke received the Swords to the Knight's Cross on 14 February 1944. 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.
Bäke single-handedly destroyed three Soviet tanks during the battle with infantry weapons at close range, for which he received three Tank Destruction Ribbons, worn on his upper right sleeve