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Budka, Franz (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
August 18th, 1920 (Vienna, Austria)
Date of death:
May 6th, 1945 (near Breslau/Prussia, Germany)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Groß Nädlitz
Grave: UNK.
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 473.346 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
Austrian

Biography

00.02.1942: SS-Rottenführer, 8. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Deutschland', SS-Division 'Reich'
00.05.1943: SS-Oberscharführer, 9. KRL, SS-Artillerie-Schule II
01.09.1943: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer
00.00.1944: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
00.05.1945: SS-Obersturmführer, Adjutant, SS-Infanterie-Geschütz-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 1
06.05.1945: SS-Obersturmführer, Führer, 1. Kompanie, SS-Festungs-Regiment 1 'Besslein', 'Breslau', reported MIA ivo Breslau, being seriously wounded after stepping on a mine one version mentioned that he probably shot himself during the breakout from Breslau
00.00.1952: another version mentioned him in the Soviet POW camp Nr.6 Vorkuta also named Vorkutlag located in Vorkuta, Komi, USSR

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmman (Private 1st Class)
Unit:
8. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Deutschland', SS-Division 'Reich'
Awarded on:
August 29th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
October 7th, 1943
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:
Führer, 1. Kompanie, SS-Festungs-Regiment 1 'Besslein', 'Breslau'
Awarded on:
April 19th, 1945
Budka’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 06.04.1945, following a multi-hour drumfire, the enemy attacked Budka’s Kompanie, which was deployed at the focal point of the fortress’s southern sector. Within the sea of burning houses they managed to achieve a penetration. Recognizing the danger, Budka resolved to attack the overwhelming enemy with only his Kompanie HQ squad and some swiftly assembled logistics troops. Bitter close combat erupted amongst temperatures that reached as high as 60 degrees celsius. Budka fought bare-chested and with Panzerfaust in hand. Caring nought for his own person, he cleared basement after basement within the previously lost housing block and did not rest until the old frontline was once again under friendly control. He then held this against 3 further major attacks. It was only thanks to the bold initiative, bitter will to fight and exceptional daring of this exemplary officer that this housing block (decisive for the entire southern sector) remained in friendly hands.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo