Karl-Heinrich Banze

Karl-Heinrich Banze (24 February 1911 in Hofgeismar - 31 December 1945) was a German Leutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II.

Career

Banze was born on the 24 July 1911 in Hofgeismar near Kassel in Hesse, Germany. On the 1 October 1933, joined the Artillerie-Regiment 70 in Koblenz - Niederlahnstein, he participates from the 11 November 1935 on the weapons training courses at the school of artillery and is transferred to Jüterbog on the 10 December 1940 to the teaching artillery regiment, he was promoted to the 1 August 1940 to the top officer. As such, he comes to the 12 May 1941 to the new 101st assault gun Department 244 and participates in the operations of the Department in Russia. He takes part as gun Guide 1 battery 1 train in the defensive battles during the Soviet attacks to the embracing of Kharkov on the 8 May 1942. With 1 battery the enemy offensive was used against the left flank arm within the framework of the 113 Infantry Division, in the Poltava area. Banze fought on alone made against erupted Panzerkampfwagen and downed numerous tanks alone against a pack of tank set. Through this use, its launch number increased to a total of 24. The Wehrmachtbericht reported by the 15 May 1942 on the successful fighting of the Department whereby Banze alone could shoot down 13 tanks. Banze was awarded on the 27 May 1942 with the Knight's Cross for his valiant efforts, for which he was proposed by the 113 Infantry Division. Still, he had received the certificate of appreciation to the 25 May 1942. A short time later Banze, came as a Lieutenant, in Soviet captivity, where he died in February 1943 in the camp of Dubrovka. Karl Heinrich Banze was on the 29 July 1951 by the District Court of Hofgeismar, with effect from the 31 December 1945, declared dead.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (24 July 1941)^[1]
  • 1st Class (27 September 1941)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1939) in Black
• Eastern Front Medal (1942)
• Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 May 1942 as Oberwachtmeister and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 244^[2][3]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (15 May 1942)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Friday, 15 May 1942	Die Sturmgeschützabteilung 244 hat bei den Kämpfen im Osten am 14. Mai 36 feindliche Panzer vernichtet. Von diesen Panzern hat der Oberfeldwebel Banse (sic) allein 13 abgeschossen. [4]	The Assault Gun Battalion 244 has destroyed 36 enemy tanks in the fighting in the east on 14 May. Of these tanks, Sergeant Banse alone has destroyed 13.

References

Citations

1. Thomas & Wegmann 1985, p. 20.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 121, 484.
3. Scherzer 2007, p. 201.
4. The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, p. 141.

Bibliography

• 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.
• 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.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1985). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil I: Sturmartillerie [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part I: Assault Artillery] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1447-2.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.