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Baumann, Wilhelm 'Willi' (XI. SS-Armeekorps)

Date of birth:
June 4th, 1914 (Dortmund-Hörde, Germany)
Date of death:
April 30th, 1982 (Zwingenberg, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 183.046 // NSDAP-Nr.: 5.361.078
Nationality:
German

Biography

Promotions:
SS-Hauptsturmführer
01.08.1944: SS-Sturmbannführer

Career:
1939: SS-Junkerschule 'Bad Tölz'
12.1943-04.1944: Ib - Quartiermeister - 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division 'Nord'
01.08.1944-01.1945: Ib - Quartiermeister - XI.SS-Armeekorps

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SS-Ehrenring
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 11th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 30th, 1943
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:
Quartiermeister, XI. SS-Armeekorps, Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
January 27th, 1945
Baumann’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“While operating in the rear area of the XI. SS-A.K. (which had been encircled in the Neu-Sandez area), Baumann gathered up stragglers and isolated combat units on his own initiative and formed them into a Kampfgruppe. Along with this force he was able to hold up an advance by 3 Soviet rifle divisions along the Grybow—Jordanow road (namely the Dg. III, which was located northwest of Neu-Sandez) during the time period 19.-22.01.1945. Despite the very difficult circumstances at the time he was able to achieve this through a combination of skillful leadership and flexible utilization of the mountainous terrain. By doing so he established an important precondition for both the XI. SS-A.K.’s fighting withdrawal and the sealing of the frontline gap between the XI. SS-A.K. and the LIX. A.K.

Baumann fulfilled his task with exceptional decisiveness and bravery despite being hindered by a wartime injury (namely a leg amputation).”

At the time of the action he served as Führer of a Kampfgruppe.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo