Franz Bäke

Dr. med. dent. Franz Bäke
Franz Bäke, February 1944
Born	(1898-02-28)28 February 1898 Schwarzenfels, Sinntal, Province of Hesse-Nassau, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1915–20, 1937–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Unit	6th Panzer Division
Commands held	Panzer-Regiment 11 106. Panzer-Brigade Panzerdivision Feldherrenhalle 2
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Other work	Dentist

Dr. med. dent. Franz Bäke (28 February 1898 – 12 December 1978) was a German Army officer and panzer ace. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. 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. 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, having received his doctorate in dental medicine in 1923.

Early life and World War I

Bäke was born on 28 February 1898 in Schwarzenfels, present-day part of Sinntal, in the Province of Hesse-Nassau, Kingdom of Prussia, as part of the German Empire.

In August 1914, the outbreak of World War I changed his plans. In May 1915, Bäke volunteered for the German Army. He was posted to Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 3, based in Köln. After basic training, Bäke was transferred to Infanterie-Regiment Nr.11, which was in action on the Western Front.

In mid-1916, Bäke accepted an offer to become an officer candidate and was briefly transferred to Infanterie-Regiment Nr.10. In November 1916, Bäke was transferred to the artillery arm and served with Artillerie-Regiment zu Fuß Nr.7. After the armistice, Bäke remained in the army until his demobilisation on 25 January 1919.

Inter-war years

From 1919 to 1921, Bäke served in the Einwohnerwehr of Würzburg as part of the Freikorps Epp, a right-wing paramilitary unit named after Franz Ritter von Epp. In parallel (1919–1922), he studied medicine and dentistry at the University of Würzburg, University of Bonn and University of Münster and attained his Doctor of Medical Dentistry in 1923.

Bäke established his own dentistry practice in Hagen. In early 1937 he applied to join the reserves, being accepted on 1 April 1937. Bäke was given his World War I rank of officer cadet and posted to Aufklärungs-Abteilung 6, a reconnaissance unit. After two major exercises, Bäke returned to his dentistry practice, spending the required time in reserve training to achieve the rank of Leutnant (2nd lieutenant) of the Reserves by December 1937. Soon after, he was mobilized for full-time service as an officer.

On 1 January 1938, Bäke was transferred to Panzer-Abteilung 65, where he served as platoon leader of the Abt's light column. During the invasion of the Sudetenland, he acted as the deputy company commander of 3./Panzer-Abteilung 65.

Second World War

Early campaigns

With the outbreak of war on 1 September 1939, Bäke was still with Panzer-Abteilung 65. During the Invasion of Poland, he acted as the leader of the light column during the initial operations, before transferring to a platoon command in the Abteilung's second company. Equipped with Czech-made Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) tanks, the Abteilung was attached to General der Panzertruppen Werner Kempf's 1. leichte-Division on 12 September, and completed the campaign serving under Kempf's formation, Panzer-Division Kempf. On 1 November 1939 he was promoted to Oberleutnant of the Reserves (1st lieutenant) and appointed company commander. In October 1939, 1. Leichte-Division was redesignated 6. Panzer-Division. Panzer-Abt 65 formed an integral part of this new division. On 1 May 1940, Bäke was promoted to Hauptmann of the Reserves (captain).

On 10 May 1940, Bäke and 6.Panzer took part in Fall Gelb, the invasion of France. 6.Panzer formed a part of Panzergruppe Guderian, an army-sized formation charged with attacking through the Ardennes and encircling the Allied forces engaged in combat in Belgium. In the following weeks in combat, he was wounded twice (on 17 and 19 May), receiving the Wound Badge in gold. Bäke was awarded the Iron Cross first class following the campaign.

Barbarossa – Typhoon

Following the campaign in the West, 6.Panzer was moved to East Prussia, where it undertook refitting in preparation for the coming offensive against the Soviet Union. Bäke was appointed to the staff of 6. Panzer's Panzer-Regiment 11, being responsible for the recovery of damaged tanks. With the launch of Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941, 6.Panzer took part in Army Group North's strike towards Leningrad. On 1 August 1941, Bäke was promoted to Major of the Reserves.

In October 1941, 6.Panzer was transferred to Army Group Centre, where it formed a part of Panzergruppe 3, commanded by General Georg-Hans Reinhardt. The Panzergruppe was tasked with Operation Typhoon, an offensive aimed at the capture of Moscow. On 27 November, elements of the Panzergruppe reached the Volga Canal, only 19 miles (31 km) from Moscow. The offensive ultimately failed.

In November 1941, Bäke was appointed to the position of Ordonnanz-Offizier for Panzer-Regiment 11. This position required Bäke to lead ad hoc Kampfgruppen. 6.Panzer ended the campaign as part of General Erich Höpner's Panzergruppe 4, acting as a reserve for Army Group Centre forces.

Refit – back to the Eastern Front

After the defensive battles near Moscow during the winter, the depleted 6.Panzer was ordered back to France to rest and refit. On 1 June 1942, Bäke was promoted to commander of II./Abteilung of Panzer-Regiment 11.

After the encirclement of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad, 6.Panzer, was sent to Ukraine to join Erich von Manstein's Army Group Don, currently struggling to halt the advancing Soviet forces. The division arrived at the front in December 1942 and took part in the abortive attempt to relieve the 6th Army in Operation Wintergewitter. Bäke commanded II./Panzer-Regiment 11 during the withdrawal to Kharkov. On 11 January 1943, Bäke was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

The division took part in the battle to retake Kharkov. After the recapture of the city, 6.Panzer was attached to Armee-Abteilung Kempf. During May, the division was pulled back to act as reserve.

Kursk – Panzer-Regiment Bäke

Oak Leaves ceremony, from left to right: Adolf Hitler, Oberst Paul Schultz (hidden), Oberst Dr. med. dent. Walter Lange, Major Theodor Tolsdorff, Oberst Günther Pape, Major Dr. Franz Bäke

In June, 6.Panzer was attached to 4.Panzer-Armee under General Colonel Hermann Hoth. 4.Panzer-Armee was to form the southern pincer of the attack on the Kursk salient, Operation Citadel. Bäke's unit fought near Belgorod. On 13 July 1943, Bäke was wounded, but remained with the unit. On 14 July, the commander of Panzer-Regiment 11 was severely wounded, and command of the regiment was temporarily delegated to Bäke. The offensive was cancelled on 13 August 1943, and Bäke's regiment saw heavy combat during the withdrawal to the Dniepr. For his actions during Operation Citadel, Bäke was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.

On 1 November 1943, Bäke was promoted to Oberstleutnant of the Reserves (lieutenant colonel) 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 named Heavy Panzer Regiment Bäke [Schweres-Panzer-Regiment Bäke]. The regiment consisted of 46 Panther and 34 Tiger I tanks, supported by self-propelled artillery and a mechanized engineer battalion. In January 1944, Bäke commanded his regiment during the battles for the Balabonovka pocket. Bäke single-handedly destroyed three Soviet tanks during the battle with infantry weapons at close range, for which he received three Tank Destruction Badges, worn on his upper right sleeve.

Next, the regiment was sent to the area of Korsun-Cherkassy, where Gruppe Stemmermann, named after its commander Wilhelm Stemmermann, had been encircled in the Cherkassy Pocket. Together with a Kampfgruppe of the 1.SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Bäke's tanks opened an escape route 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, becoming the 49th Wehrmacht soldier to receive this commendation. 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.

Feldherrnhalle commands

On 1 May 1944, Bäke was promoted to Oberst of the Reserves. His regiment was involved in defensive battles for the rest of the month, after which it was disbanded and the component units sent back to their parent divisions. Bäke was ordered west to take command of 106.Panzer-Brigade Feldherrnhalle, which was forming in Mława. The Feldherrnhalle units were formed from a cadre of ex-SA men, and as such Bäke was granted the honorary SA rank of SA-Sanitäts-Standartenführer.

Bäke's unit attacked the U.S. 90th Infantry Division near Aumetz on the night of 7–8 September 1944. Bäke's command found itself poorly deployed and under sustained counter-attack from American infantry. By the evening of 8 September, Bäke had lost thirty tanks, sixty half-tracks, and nearly a hundred other vehicles in the lopsided battle. His infantry losses were also heavy, with the unit reporting to OB West that it had only nine armored vehicles and that unit strength was down to 25 per cent of the authorized establishment.

On 28 February 1945, Bäke transferred from reserve to active duty. On 10 March he was tasked with the leadership of the newly formed Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle 2, formally the 13th Panzer Division, and sent to Hungary. Bäke's division fought as part of the Panzerkorps Feldherrnhalle during the retreat through Hungary and Czechoslovakia. On 20 April, Bäke was promoted to Generalmajor and officially given command of the 13th Panzer Division/Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle 2. He on 8 May 1945 surrendered to American forces.

Post-war

Bäke spent several years as a prisoner of war, being released in 1947. He returned to Hagen and resumed his dental practice.

He died in a hospital at Bergmannsheil in Bochum of injuries sustained in a car accident on 12 December 1978. The Bundeswehr provided an honour guard at his funeral.

Summary of career

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (15 July 1916)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (26 September 1939)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 1st Class (1 June 1940)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Silver (2 June 1940)
  • in Gold (14 July 1943)
• Panzer Badge
  • in Silver (7 June 1940)
  • in Silver 2nd Grade (1 August 1943)
  • in Silver 3rd Grade (16 August 1943)
  • in Silver 4th Grade (5 December 1943)
  • in Special Grade (100)
• Sudetenland Medal (10 September 1940)
• Eastern Front Medal (1 August 1942)
• 3 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants (17 July 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 11 January 1943 as Major of the Reserves and commander of the II./Panzer-Regiment 11
  • 262nd Oak Leaves on 1 August 1943 as Major of the Reserves and commander of the II./Panzer-Regiment 11
  • 49th Swords on 21 February 1944 as Oberstleutnant of the Reserves and commander of Panzer-Regiment 11
• Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht

Wehrmachtbericht references

The daily Wehrmachtbericht (Wehrmacht propaganda report) noted the following:

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
31 January 1944	Die westfälische 16. Panzerdivision unter Führung des Generalmajors Back und ein unter der Führung des Oberstleutnants Bäke stehendes schweres Panzerregiment haben sich hier besonders bewährt.	The westfalian 16th Panzer division under the leadership of Generalmajor Back and a heavy Panzer regiment under Oberstleutnant Bäke distinguished themselves here.
6 December 1944 (addendum)	In den Abwehrkämpfen im Unterelsaß hat sich die Panzerbrigade 106 "Feldherrnhalle" unter Führung des mit dem Eichenlaub mit Schwertern zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes ausgezeichneten Oberst Baeke durch hervoragenden Angriffsgeist und besondere Standfestigkeit ausgezeichnet. Sie schoß in 3 Tagen 40 feindliche Panzer ab.	The 106th Panzer Brigade "Feldherrenhalle" under the leadership of Oberst Baeke, who is decorated with the Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, distinguished itself by showing attacking spirit and determined stableness in the defensive battles in the lower Alsace. It shot up 40 enemy tanks in 3 days.

Promotions

1 December 1937:	Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) of the Reserves
1 January 1940:	Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) of the Reserves, with a rank age of 1 November 1939
1 May 1941:	Hauptmann (Captain) of the Reserves
1 August 1942:	Major (Major) of the Reserves
1 November 1943:	Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) of the Reserves
1 May 1944:	Oberst (Colonel) of the Reserves
28 February 1945:	Oberst, effective as 1 January 1945, with a rank age of 1 May 1944
20 April 1945:	Generalmajor (Brigadier General)

References

Bibliography

• Kurowski, Franz (1992). Panzer Aces. New York: Ballantine Book. ISBN 0-345-44884-7.

Military offices
Preceded by Generalmajor Gerhard Schmidhuber	Tasked with the leadership of 13th Panzer Division 10 March 1944 – 20 April 1945	Succeeded by 13th Panzer Division
Preceded by 13th Panzer Division	Commander of 13th Panzer Division 20 April 1944 – 8 May 1945	Succeeded by —