Date of birth:

February 24th, 1895 (Herzogenaurach/Mittelfranken, Germany)

Date of death:

February 15th, 1943 (Sclobodka/Russia, Soviet Union)

Nationality:

German

1914: joined the 7./ 6. Infanterie Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm" in 1914 as 1 year volunteer
1915: officer aspirant course in Elsenborn
1917: company leadership course in Nuremberg
1918: Luftschiffer-Ersatz-Abteilung in Munich
1919: platoon leader in the 1./ Freikorps 'Epp'
1933: Reich Labor Service Leader - RAD Führer
1935: officer preparation course
1936: appointed to the Gebirgsjäger Regiment 100
1939: Hauptmann d.R. - Chef 1./ Infanterie Regiment 399
01.11.1939: activated and transferred to I./ Infanterie Regiment 499 as Bataillons-Adjutant
1940: Führer III./ then I./ Infanterie Regiment 488
1941: Führer I./ Infanterie Regiment 499
29-30.12.1941: made a decisive contribution to the fact that his division could be freed from encirclement in Baschmakova and was awarded the Knight's Cross on February 2, 1942
1942: Kdr Infanterie Regiment 468 - regimental leader training course in Döberitz
07.02.1943: transferred to the Führer reserve after suffering a stroke
15.02.1943: Bauer died from the consequences of his stroke in field hospital 268 near Slobodka after he had been promoted to Oberst the same day.

Promotions:
1914: Gefreiter
1914: Unteroffizier
1915: Leutnant der Reserve
1935: Hauptmann
1941: Major
1942: Oberstleutnant
15.02.1943: Oberst

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

7./ 6. Infanterie Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm"

Awarded on:

November 15th, 1915

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Gefreiter der Reserve (Lance Corporal of Reserves)

Unit:

7./ 6. Infanterie Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm"

Awarded on:

October 22nd, 1914

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

7./ 6. Infanterie Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm"

Awarded on:

September 23rd, 1918

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

7./ 6. Infanterie Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm"

Awarded on:

July 4th, 1918

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Awarded on:

October 24th, 1935

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

IR 488

Awarded on:

June 29th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

IR 488

Awarded on:

July 2nd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 499, 268. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 26th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 499, 268. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

February 2nd, 1942

The following wartime excerpt describes why Bauer was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Major Bauer participated in the crisis filled retreat battle near Baschmakowka on the 29. and 30.12.1941, and due to the personal bravery he demonstrated here he had a decisive share in the freeing of his Division from enemy encirclement. He inspired his exhausted and ice-cold men to put up a death-defying and sacrificial devotion to duty during the attack against much larger enemy forces on the 29.12.1941 across the open snowfields and through the snow-covered forest. He did so likewise in the subsequent defensive combat on the 30.12.1941. His personal bravery and energetic leadership enabled his Division to force a breakout through the enemy encirclement and thereafter set up a viable defense at another position.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Awarded on:

1942

• Photo: - NAZI JERMAN: Foto 268. Infanterie-Division
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück, 1987.
  - Volksbund
  - Michael Bauer (officer): Military personnel (born: 1895 - died: 1943)