Date of birth:

August 28th, 1918 (Gundersdorf/Steiermark, Austria)

Date of death:

May 3rd, 1994 (Voitsberg, Austria)

Nationality:

Austrian

Name by birth: Baichl.

Promotions
1940: Rekrut
1941: Gefreiter
1942: Unteroffizier
1944: Feldwebel
21.10.1944: Oberfeldwebel

Johann Baichl, real birth name Bäuchl, was born on August 28th, 1918 in Gundersdorf / Austria as the son of a carpenter and on March 4th, 1940 he joined the 11th Company of the Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Regiment 138 after having learned the trade of a farmer himself.
From May 27th, 1940 he was transferred to the 1st company of the 403 bicycle battalion and, as a non-commissioned officer and officer's assistant, was transferred to the company commander's school for rapid troops in the teaching department 2 of the 2nd Panzergrenadier there from September 1st, 1942 -Training company.
After five months, the Russian veteran helped train future company commanders and assisted in tactics courses and combat exercises.
As part of his independent battalion, he previously took part in the Russian campaign, where he was slightly wounded in the winter fighting in 1941.
On January 5, 1943, he was transferred to the 5th Company of the 33rd Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the 4th Panzer Division, where he experienced the fighting near Kursk, Tim-Korowino-Obojan and gained close combat experience during operations in the Ssumy, Novgorod and Sevsk areas. During the battles within the framework of the "Zitadelle" company, Baichl and his regiment repeatedly breached the enemy defense system, but they got stuck in the counter-attack of the T-34 tanks and the numerous mine and anti-tank belts.
During the retreat movements near Orel, on the Desna, in the Pripjet swamps, he showed steadily more courage as a platoon leader. Outstanding were, among other things, his measures in the relief offensive of the Kowel-Kessel, for which he was awarded the German Cross in Gold, showed his extraordinary bravery. After a brief refresher, the division was thrown straight into the vortex of the Soviet summer offensive of 1944.
As a result, the division demonstrated its high combat strength at Baranowitschi, in the Schara bridgehead, relieving the Army Corps "von Vormann", at Slonim and rescuing the 28th Jäger Division.
After deployments on the Narew, around Warsaw and in the Vistula bend, the division switched to Army Group North.
There the division was in the period from 06.10. deployed on the Venta until October 13, 1944, with the 33rd Panzer Grenadier Regiment occupying a bridgehead on the south bank of the Venta.
On October 9, 1944, the regiment pushed forward to the bridge near Moscheiken and made another push at Gaidziai via Kalnenai, with parts of the regiment reaching the Venta southwest of Kalnenai and forcing the Venta crossing over a footbridge.
In the subsequent battles for Klates-Pluki, promoted to sergeant-major on October 21, 1944, Baichl stood out for his particular bravery and thus contributed significantly to the local success.
With immediate effect, he was withdrawn from the front line according to the regulations and, due to his experience potential, transferred to the 5th company of the Army Weapons School of the 3rd Panzer Army, where he was mainly deployed in the training of platoon leaders and shock troop leaders.
It is possible that shortly before the end of the war he was transferred to the Panzergrenadier School, but there is no direct evidence of this.
Awarded the close combat clasp in gold, he was one of a total of 19 soldiers of the 33rd Panzer Grenadier Regiment who received this high, if not the highest, honorary honor. After the war he changed his name to Johann Bäuchl, returned to Styria and worked there as a master carpenter.

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• Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
• Photo 2:
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  
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