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Barth, Otto (Grenadier-Regiment 688)

Date of birth:
July 12th, 1897 (Leipzig, Germany)
Date of death:
February 20th, 1945 (Lichtenthal/Pommerania, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
Leutnant d.R.
Oberleutnant d.R.
1940: Hauptmann d.R.
1943: Major d.R.

Otto Barth has been in the 2. / I.R. from August 1939. 475.
With this company he takes part in the campaign in the Netherlands and the invasion of Russia.
1943 leader of the 1st battalion of his regiment, he was promoted to Major d.R. to the staff of the G.R. 688 and a short time later takes command of the 2nd battalion of the regiment.
In January 1945, the 337th People's Grenadier Division was deployed on the Vistula, south of Warsaw, and tried to break through in the Sochazew-Wyszogrod area as part of the general retreat movements of the 2nd Army in order to reach the Schwetz area. Barth distinguished himself in the leadership of his battalion in particular and received the Knight's Cross on February 9, 1945. On February 17, Barth, now also City Commandant of Neuchâtel in West Prussia, was ordered to hold Neuchâtel by all means.
The troops under Major Barth, regiments 313 and 688, went back to Milewo due to the threat of confinement and fought their way to their own lines until February 20, 1945.
During these battles Otto Barth fell on February 20, 1945 near Lichtenthal, northwest of the Schmentau train station.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 25th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 3rd, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 25th, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Sources

Photo