Otto Barth

For the Austrian artist, see Otto Barth (artist).

Otto Barth
Born	(1891-06-18)18 June 1891 Dresden
Died	Erlangen
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1920) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1911–20 1935–45
Rank	Generalmajor
Commands held	30. Infanterie-Division 21. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of the Caucasus Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Factory Worker Insurance Salesman

Otto Barth (18 June 1891 – 3 May 1963) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 30. Infanterie-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Otto Barth was captured by Soviet troops following the fall of the Courland Pocket in 1945. He was held until 1955.

Dates of Rank

• Fahnenjunker (30 March 1911)
• Fähnrich (26 November 1911)
• Leutnant (9 August 1912)
• Oberleutnant (22 May 1917)
• Hauptmann (1 September 1936)
• Major (1 March 1937)
• Oberstleutnant (1 August 1940)
• Oberst (1 February 1942)
• Generalmajor (9 November 1944)

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Knight's Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry (7 May 1918)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold on 9 October 1942 as Oberst in Artillerie-Regiment 117
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 May 1943 as Oberst and commander of Artillerie-Regiment 117
• Armband Courland
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 3 November 1944

Wehrmachtbericht reference

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

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
3 November 1944	In der Abwehrschlacht südöstlich Libau haben die fränkisch-bayrische 4. Panzer-Division unter Führung von Generalmajor Betzel und die norddeutsche 30. Infanterie-Division unter Führung des Obersten Barth den erstrebten Durchbruch des Feindes in zäher Abwehr und durch schwungvollen Gegenangriff an entscheidender Stelle vereitelt.	In the defensive battle southeast Libau, the Franco-Bavarian 4 Panzer Division under the command of Major General Betzel and the North German 30 Infantry Division under the leadership of Colonel Barth, have thwarted the aspired breakthrough of the enemy at a critical point in tough defense and sweeping counter-attack.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Hans von Basse	Commander of 30. Infanterie-Division 15 August 1944 – 30 January 1945	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Albert Henze
Preceded by Generalleutnant Albert Henze	Commander of 21. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division 16 February 1945 – 8 May 1945	Succeeded by None