Otto Baum

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Otto Baum
Baumotto1.jpg
Born (1911-11-15)15 November 1911
Stetten, Province of Hohenzollern, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Hechingen-Stetten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1934–45
Rank SS-Oberführer
Service number NSDAP #4,197,040
SS #237,056[1]
Commands held <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Otto Baum, (15 November 1911 in Hechingen-Stetten – 18 June 1998 in Hechingen-Stetten) was an SS-Oberführer (Senior Colonel) of the Waffen-SS. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). 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.


Early life and career

Baum was born on 15 November 1911 in Hechingen-Stetten, at the time in Kingdom of Württemberg. He was the son of Emil Baum, a merchant. In 1930, Baum graduated with his Abitur (university-preparatory high school diploma) from a Realgymnasium—a secondary school built on the mid-level Realschule. From 1930 to 1932, he completed a number of agricultural internships at a number of farms. In parallel he studied two semesters agriculture at the University of Hohenheim.[2]

World War II

He served as a battalion commander in 3rd SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment during the invasion of the Soviet Union. After recovering from severe wounds in 1943, he was promoted to regimental commander, and eventually reached the rank of SS-Oberführer . He took command of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich in July 1944, and saw action in the Falaise Pocket.[3]

Summary of SS career

Decorations

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
29 July 1944 (Addendum) In den schweren Kämpfen im Raum St. Lo – Lassay haben sich in den letzten Wochen in Abwehr und Gegenangriff besonders ausgezeichnet:
Die 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen" unter Führung ihres schwer verwundeten Kommandeurs Brigadeführer Ostendorff und seines Vertreters Standartenführer Baum,
die 353. Infanterie-Division unter Führung ihres Divisionskommandeurs Generalleutnant Mahlmann,
das Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5 unter seinem Kommandeur Major Heinz Becker,
das Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9 unter seinem Kommandeur Major Kurt Stephani und das Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 unter seinem Kommandeur Oberstleutnant Gröschke.
[17]
In the heavy fighting of the recent weeks in the St. Lo - Lassay area have particularly distinguished themselves in defense and counter-attacks:
The 17th SS-Panzer- Grenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen" led by their severely wounded commander Brigadeführer Ostendorff and his representative Standartenführer Baum,
the 353rd Infantry Division, led by their divisional commander Lieutenant General Mahlmann,
the Parachute Regiment 5 under his commander Major Heinz Becker,
the Parachute Regiment 9 under his commander Major Kurt Stephani and the Parachute Regiment 15 under its commander Lieutenant Colonel Gröschke.

Dates of rank

1 January 1935: SS-Rottenführer[4]
1 July 1935: SS-Unterscharführer[4]
9 November 1935: SS-Standartenjunker[4]
25 February 1936: SS-Standartenoberjunker[4]
20 April 1936: SS-Untersturmführer[4]
12 September 1937: SS-Obersturmführer[4]
9 November 1939: SS-Hauptsturmführer[4]
21 June 1941: SS-Sturmbannführer[4]
9 November 1942: SS-Obersturmbannführer[4]
30 January 1944: SS-Standartenführer[4]
17 September 1944: SS-Oberführer[4]

Notes

  1. According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Thule".[9] According to Krätschmer as commander SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 "Totenkopf".[10]

References

Citations

Bibliography

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Military offices
Preceded by
SS-Standartenführer Otto Binge
Commander of 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen
18 June 1944 – 1 August 1944
Succeeded by
SS-Standartenführer Otto Binge
Preceded by
SS-Standartenführer Christian Tychsen
Commander of 2nd SS Division Das Reich
28 July 1944 – 23 October 1944
Succeeded by
SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding
Preceded by
SS-Gruppenführer Max Simon
Commander of 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS
24 October 1944 – 8 May 1945
Succeeded by
None