- 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.