Gregor Baunach

Gregor Baunach
Born	12 January 1912 Karbach, Bavaria
Died	1 May 1945 (aged 33) M.I.A. disappeared in Berlin
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1929–45
Rank	Major
Commands held	Grenadier Regiment 173
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk Battle of Moscow Baltic Offensive (1944) Battle of Berlin
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gregor Baunach (12 January 1912 – 1 May 1945) was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was also awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold; only 631 were ever awarded. Baunach went missing during the Battle of Berlin and was later declared dead.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (11 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (1 July 1940)
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (1 April 1943)^[1]
  • in Silver (early 1944)^[1]
  • in Gold (28 November 1944)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 7 March 1942 as Leutnant in the I./Infanterie-Regiment 187^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 September 1944 as Major and commander of I./Grenadier-Regiment 173^[3]

References

Citations

1. Berger 2004, p. 21.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 29.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 106.

Bibliography

• Berger, Florian (2004). Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold [Knight's Cross Bearers with the Close Combat Clasp in Gold] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-3-7.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkeuztraeger 1939-1945