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Flachs, Bernhard

Date of birth:
March 18th, 1912 (Plauen im Vogtland-Chemnitz/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
December 8th, 1944 (Round Bedburg-Erft near Köln/Rhineprovince, Germany)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Bedburg-Hau
Row: 3. Grave: 5.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Bernhard Flachs was killed on 8th December 1944 near Bedburg-Erft. At that moment he was Inspekteur der Sturmgeschütz Schule Burg and on a tour at the front. When he was killed he held the rank of Major and was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant.

1934 Fahnenjunker
1935 Fähnrich
1936 Leutnant
1939 Oberleutnant
1942 Hauptmann
1944 Major
1944 Oberstleutnant posthumously

00.05.1942: Batterie-chef, 6./ Artillerie-Regiment 14 (mot.)
00.10.1942: Ia, Stab/ Artillerie-Kommandeur 149
27.06.1943: Kdr, Stab/ Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 277 Kommandeur
08.12.1944: KIA during an inspection near Köln

Bernhard Flax joined the army in 1934 and became a battery officer in the artillery regiment 14 in 1936, with which he participated in the Poland and West Field Train. During the Russia Field train he was commander of the artillery regiment 149. For its leadership, he was awarded the Knight's Cross on December 30, 1942. In March 1943 he became a commander of the Sturmgeüst Department 277, with which he proved himself several times on the front, for which he was awarded the oak leaves on January 31, 1944 as a captain. In April 1944 he became inspector of the Sturmgützschule Burg. In a front inspection in the Cologne area, he fell on December 8, 1944.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 5th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 31st, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Chef, 6. Batterie, Artillerie-Regiment (motorisiert), 14. Infanterie-Division (mot.)14
Awarded on:
May 24th, 1942

Award 121/3.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Ia, Hauptquartier Stabs-Abteilung, Artillerie-Kommandeur 149, V. Armee-Korps, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe A
Awarded on:
October 30th, 1942
Awarded for his achievements during the march to the Caucasus. In this time he prevented Soviet breakthrough attempts on several occasions.

1248th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 277, 6. Armee, Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
January 31st, 1944
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Awarded for the achievements of his Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung during the summer/fall of 1943. During the fighting east of the Dnieper, near Melitopol, Hauptmann Flachs and his Abteilung destroyed 46 Soviet tanks in the time period 27.-30.08.1943 (of which Flachs personally destroyed 2 with close combat weapons). Some time later, near Novo Mountal, his Abteilung destroyed 54 Soviet tanks in a single day. The Abteilung would go on to distinguish itself south of Zaporozhye. Hauptmann Flachs and his Sturmgeschütze launched a counterattack on Flachs’ own initiative that threw the broken-in Soviets back, recaptured the old frontline and destroyed 7 tanks in the process.

381st Award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1944
Nahkampfspange in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 16th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 23rd, 1942
(Allgemeines) Sturmabzeichen (ohne zahlen), I.Stufe
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1938
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre

Sources

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