Bayer, Anton

Date of birth:: May 30th, 1914 (Hamburg, germany)
Date of death:: July 7th, 1996 (Munich/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Anton Bayer was a Soviet prisoner of war from May 8th, 1945 until April 10th, 1948.

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Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: November 5th, 1941

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1942

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)
Unit:: Zugführer 14.(Panzer-Jäger) / Grenadier-Regiment 19 / 7. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: October 5th, 1943

On the 27.08.1943 the Grenadier-Regiment 19 found itself on loan to the 7. Infanterie-Division as it was engaged in bitter combat to defend the left wing of the XIII. Armee-Korps alongside a number of other alarm units.

On the following night the Soviets achieved a breakthrough in the sector of the alarm units. In response Oberfeldwebel Bayer prepared a defense atop a slightly elevated position with a part of his Pak Zug on his own initiative. Even so, the much larger force of attacking T-34s quickly knocked out all but one of the Pak guns. Then the crew of the last gun was put out of action. Oberfeldwebel Bayer dashed through heavy fire to reach this Pak gun and then took up the firefight all on his own with it. By some miracle he remained uninjured, and within a short time he destroyed the leading 5 Soviet tanks. Bayer used his last rounds to immobilize 2 more T-34s, and after this the remaining Soviet tanks pulled back to take cover. Bayer then destroyed the gun and fought his way back through Russian infantry to friendly lines with his pistol.

By this brave action he gave his Regiment the chance to withdraw and averted the danger of hostile armour getting into the German rear area. He would thusly be awarded the Knight’s Cross shortly afterwards.