Helmut Bauer

Helmut Bauer
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Born	2 February 1920 Baden, Germany
Died	Wertheim am Main, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Obersturmführer
Unit	5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Wound Badge

Helmut Bauer (2 February 1920 – 30 November 1967) was an Obersturmführer (first lieutenant) in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Helmut Bauer was born on the 2 February 1920 in Mittelschefflenz Baden. In November 1938, he volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the 17th Company, SS Deutschland Regiment stationed in Ellwangen.

World War II

At the start of World War II in Europe, he was in the Motorcycle Company and took part in the Polish Campaign and the Battle of France. At the end of the campaign in France, the Waffen-SS formed a new Division of foreign volunteers SS Division Wiking. Bauer was posted into the Reconnaissance Battalion of this new Division.

In the summer of 1942, Bauer was transferred to the 5th SS Panzer Battalion as a platoon commander in the 3rd Company; in 1943 Bauer was promoted to Oberscharführer (Senior Group Leader). He was awarded the Knight's Cross in September 1943.

After a hospital stay to recover from a serious wound in 1944, Bauer was promoted to Untersturmführer (second lieutenant) and returned to the SS Wiking as a Company commander and by the end of the war promoted to Obersturmführer (first lieutenant).

Helmut Bauer survived the war and died on the 30 November 1967, in Wertheim am Main.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (27 July 1941)
  • 1st Class (7 March 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 September 1943 as SS-Oberscharführer and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"