Pius Butz

Pius Butz (April 23, 1916 – April 16, 1944) was a German Feldwebel der Reserve in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was killed in action (KIA) on April 16, 1944, near Pjotrov on the Dnjestr.

Early life

Pius Butz was born on April 23, 1916 in Plittersdorf, in the District of Rastatt in Baden bei Wien.

World War II

Butz joined the Wehrmacht on November 14, 1938. He was a member of the 14th Company of the 111th Infantry Regiment. It is assumed that he participated with this regiment in the battle of France in May and June of 1940.

In February, 1941, he was a soldier in the 228th Infantry Regiment of 16th Corps. While there, he took part in the Balkans campaign of 1941.

At the beginning of the Russian campaign on June 22, 1941, he served with the same regiment in the 101st Light Infantry Division at the southern front. During the course of the battle, the regiment was transformed into a ranger regiment and became part of the 101st Jäger Division.

Rotmistriwka encounter

In 1943, Butz belonged to the 16th (Panzerjäger) company as part of the 228th Jäger Regiment. He served as a gunner and was mentioned on January 29, 1944 in the Wehrmachtbericht as follows: "South of Pogrebischtsche our attacks had further success. Strong enemy forces were destroyed and as reported by the Corps command, 73 Soviet tanks and 64 guns destroyed or captured. The Oberjäger (gunnery corporal) Butz in a fighter regiment on 26 January 1944 shot down with his gun ten enemy tanks." For this success, he was awarded the Knight's Cross. The engagement happened near Rotmistriwka, Northwest Pogrebischtsche. In the morning hours of January 26, 1944, an enemy Panzer group succeeded, under the cover of darkness and dense fog, to break into a gorge in the front of III Battalion of Jäger Regiment 228. The mass of the tanks closed in on Butz, who was manning his 7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone (Anti-Tank Gun) in the Sicherunsgabschnitt (Safety Zone) of the ranger company. Butz was aware of the danger if the Soviet tanks were able to break into hinterland. Through skillful manoeuvres and changing his position multiple times, Butz managed to destroy five enemy tanks. Around noon, two more tanks fell victim to his cannon. The remaining tanks then retreated. German rangers mounted a counterattack and took the back village back. The Soviet tanks attacked again in the afternoon, and Butz destroyed three more of them.

For his actions, Butz received the Knight's Cross as Oberäger and gun leader in the 16 Panzerjäger Battalion of Jäger Regiment 228 on March 6, 1944. Shortly after, he was appointed platoon leader in his company.

Death

Butz was mortally wounded by shrapnel on April 16, 1944 at Pjotrov on the Dniester River, approximately 24 kilometres south-west of Buchach. He was buried in the Potelitsch cemetery.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 June 1940)
  • 1st Class (15 June 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 March 1944 as Oberjäger and Geschützführer (gun layer) in the 16.(Infanteriegeschütz)/Jäger-Regiment 22