Edtbauer, Franz Xaver

Date of birth:: September 23rd, 1920 (Nussbach/Upper-Austria, Austria)
Date of death:: April 13th, 1944 (Furceni/Moldavia, Romania)
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

Promotions:
November 29th, 1942: Gefreiter;
September 9th, 1943: Leutnant der Reserve;
July 12th, 1944: Oberleutnant der Reserve (posthumously).

Career:
December 27th, 1940: Nachrichten-Ersatz-Batterie 44;
?: Marsch-Bataillon XVII/28;
January 15th, 1942: 3. Kompanie, Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung 45;
August 16th, 1942: 1. Genesenden-Kompanie, Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung 45;
August 25th, 1942: 3. Kompanie, Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung 45;
November 7th, 1942: 3. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10;
December 20th, 1942: 1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10;
March 24th, 1943: Führer, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 11.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Führer, I. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 11, 9. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: June 4th, 1944

Awarded for distinguishing himself near Ocsentia at the start of April 1944. Here Leutnant Edtbauer launched an immediate counterattack with his Kompanie against a Soviet group that had broken through the German lines. This attack ended in a complete success, and by this bold and determined action Leutnant Edtbauer prevented the imminent envelopment of the German defensive front. He would be killed a week later however, and would thus not live to receive the Knight’s Cross in person.

Awarded posthumously.