Otto Baum

Otto Baum
Born	15 November 1911 Stetten, Province of Hohenzollern, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	18 June 1998 (aged 86) Hechingen-Stetten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1934–45
Rank	SS-Oberführer
Service number	NSDAP #4,197,040 SS #237,056[1]
Commands held	16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS 2nd SS Division Das Reich
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Otto Baum, (15 November 1911 in Hechingen-Stetten – 18 June 1998 in Hechingen-Stetten) was an SS-Oberführer (Senior Colonel) of the Waffen-SS. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Early life and career

Baum was born on 15 November 1911 in Hechingen-Stetten, at the time in Kingdom of Württemberg. He was the son of Emil Baum, a merchant. In 1930, Baum graduated with his Abitur (university-preparatory high school diploma) from a Realgymnasium—a secondary school built on the mid-level Realschule. From 1930 to 1932, he completed a number of agricultural internships at a number of farms. In parallel he studied two semesters agriculture at the University of Hohenheim.^[2]

World War II

He served as a battalion commander in 3rd SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment during the invasion of the Soviet Union. After recovering from severe wounds in 1943, he was promoted to regimental commander, and eventually reached the rank of SS-Oberführer . He took command of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich in July 1944, and saw action in the Falaise Pocket.^[3]

Summary of SS career

Decorations

• Anschluss Medal (13 March 1938)^[4]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 September 1939)^[5][6]
  • 1st Class (15 June 1940)^[5][6]
• Infantry Assault Badge (3 October 1940)^[4]
• Eastern Front Medal
• Tank Destruction Badge^[7]
• German Cross in Gold on 26 December 1941 as SS-Sturmbannführer in the III./SS-Infanterie-Regiment 3^[8]
• Wound Badge in Silver^[7]
• Demyansk Shield^[7]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 8 May 1942 as SS-Sturmbannführer and commander of the III./SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3^{[9][10][11][12]}
  • 277th Oak Leaves on 22 August 1943 as SS-Obersturmbannführer and commander SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Totenkopf"^{[13][14][Note 1]}
  • 95th Swords on 2 September 1944 as SS-Standartenführer and commander 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"^{[9][10][15][16]}
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 29 July 1944

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
29 July 1944 (Addendum)	In den schweren Kämpfen im Raum St. Lo – Lassay haben sich in den letzten Wochen in Abwehr und Gegenangriff besonders ausgezeichnet: Die 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen" unter Führung ihres schwer verwundeten Kommandeurs Brigadeführer Ostendorff und seines Vertreters Standartenführer Baum, die 353. Infanterie-Division unter Führung ihres Divisionskommandeurs Generalleutnant Mahlmann, das Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5 unter seinem Kommandeur Major Heinz Becker, das Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9 unter seinem Kommandeur Major Kurt Stephani und das Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 unter seinem Kommandeur Oberstleutnant Gröschke.[17]	In the heavy fighting of the recent weeks in the St. Lo - Lassay area have particularly distinguished themselves in defense and counter-attacks: The 17th SS-Panzer- Grenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen" led by their severely wounded commander Brigadeführer Ostendorff and his representative Standartenführer Baum, the 353rd Infantry Division, led by their divisional commander Lieutenant General Mahlmann, the Parachute Regiment 5 under his commander Major Heinz Becker, the Parachute Regiment 9 under his commander Major Kurt Stephani and the Parachute Regiment 15 under its commander Lieutenant Colonel Gröschke.

Dates of rank

1 January 1935:	SS-Rottenführer[4]
1 July 1935:	SS-Unterscharführer[4]
9 November 1935:	SS-Standartenjunker[4]
25 February 1936:	SS-Standartenoberjunker[4]
20 April 1936:	SS-Untersturmführer[4]
12 September 1937:	SS-Obersturmführer[4]
9 November 1939:	SS-Hauptsturmführer[4]
21 June 1941:	SS-Sturmbannführer[4]
9 November 1942:	SS-Obersturmbannführer[4]
30 January 1944:	SS-Standartenführer[4]
17 September 1944:	SS-Oberführer[4]

Notes

1. According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Thule".^[9] According to Krätschmer as commander SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 "Totenkopf".^[10]

References

Citations

1. Westemeier 2013, p. 662.
2. Stockert 1997, p. 326.
3. Mattson 2002, p. 177.
4. Thomas & Wegmann 1987, p. 264.
5. Thomas 1997, p. 26.
6. Thomas & Wegmann 1987, p. 263.
7. Berger 1999, p. 24.
8. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 27.
9. Scherzer 2007, p. 206.
10. Krätschmer 1999, p. 305.
11. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 124.
12. Von Seemen 1976, p. 78.
13. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 71.
14. Von Seemen 1976, p. 36.
15. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 45.
16. Von Seemen 1976, p. 18.
17. The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, p. 181.

Bibliography

• Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
• 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.
• Krätschmer, Ernst-Günther (1999). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-SS [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Waffen-SS]. Coburg, Germany: Nation Europa Verlag. ISBN 978-3-920677-43-9.
• Mattson, Gregory L. (2002). SS-Das Reich: The History of the Second SS Division, 1944–45. Amber Books. ISBN 0-7603-1255-9.
• 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.
• Stockert, Peter (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 3 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 3] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-932915-01-7.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1987). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 1: A–Be [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 1: A–Be] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1153-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
• Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 : The Knight's Cross Bearers of All the Armed Services, Diamonds, Swords and Oak Leaves Bearers in the Order of Presentation: Appendix with Further Information and Presentation Requirements] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.
• Yerger, Mark C. (1997). Waffen-SS Commanders: The Army, Corps and Divisional Leaders of a Legend: Augsberger to Kreutz. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0356-2.
• Westemeier, Jens (2013). Himmlers Krieger: Joachim Peiper und die Waffen-SS in Krieg und Nachkriegszeit [Himmler's Warriors: Joachim Peiper and the Waffen-SS during the War and Post-War Period]. Paderborn, Germany: Ferdinand Schöningh. ISBN 978-3-506-77241-1.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.