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Baum, Adolf, Dr.jur. (Flak-Regiment 37 (mot))

Date of birth:
October 28th, 1916 (Feldsberg/Moravia)
Date of death:
December 4th, 1942 (Lazarett Krakau, Poland)
Buried on:
German War Graves Cracow
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
1937: soldier in the Austrian Armed Forces
1938: appointed ROA
1939: Feldwebel der Reserve
1940: Leutnant der Reserve
1942: Oberleutnant der Reserve

Career:
1937: entered the 5./ Inf.Reg.6 for basic training then appointed to the 8./ Flak Regiment 12 and then transferred to 3./ Flak Regiment 25
26.10.1938: appointed reserve officer candidate - 3./ leicht.Flak-Abt.73
02.09.1939: transferred to the 5./ Flak Regiment 61
04.1940: platoon leader and reconnaissance officer in the 1./ Flak Regiment 37
01.04.1942: assigned to the 5./ Flak Regiment 37
04.1942: severely wounded in action and sent to a hospital in Cracow
04.12.1942: DOW in the lazarett in Cracow
21.12.1942: posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 18th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 19th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 9th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Chef 5. Batterie, Flak-Regiment 37 (mot), Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
December 21st, 1942
Awarded for smashing an attack by 17 Soviet tanks near Stalingrad. This action is described in the following newspaper excerpt (dated 27.01.1943) as follows…

“Oberleutnant Baum was awarded the Knight’s Cross following the outstandingly brave devotion to duty that he displayed in September 1942. During this time his Flak-Batterie provided excellent support for a Bataillon as it conducted major defensive combat against far larger enemy forces. Throughout this time Oberleutnant Baum distinguished himself through his outstanding personal bravery and fire direction, and in particular when he was faced with an attack by a large number of tanks on the 05.09.1942. It was primarily the fire of this Batterie that prevented a penetration by Soviet tanks during an engagement that saw 7 hostile tanks be destroyed and another 3 immobilized by fire. The actions of this Batterie prevented a severe crisis from developing at this point of the defensive front north of Stalingrad.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
Flakkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Sources

Photos