Karl Baacke (15 May 1907 - 2 April 1944) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #327 on 30 June 1941 as Hauptmann and Kommandeur III.Bataillon / Grenz-Infanterie-Regiment 124 / 72.Infanterie-Division. The following wartime excerpt describes why Baacke was awarded the Ritterkreuz: “Hauptmann Baacke has already previously distinguished himself during the fighting around Mount Olympus through his extraordinary readiness for duty and prudent leadership of the Vorausabteilung 72. During the battle for Thermopylae he attacked the strong English opponent via a night attack launched on his own initiative. In the process he demonstrated great personal bravery and achieved a decisive victory for the continued forward advance of the 6. Gebirgs-Division.”
Baacke received the Eichenlaub #352 for his Ritterkreuz on 10 December 1943 as Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur 266 Grenadier-Regiment / 72.Infanterie-Division. The following press article (dated 16 December 1943) describes why Baacke was awarded the Eichenlaub: “As the battle of the moselländischen 72. Infanterie-Division (named in the Wehrmachtbericht of 6 December 1943) in Cherkassy came to a head, and the city itself was temporarily encircled, Oberstleutnant Baacke broke the Soviets’ encirclement ring and thereby enabled both the evacuation of the wounded and the influx of important supply goods. On the next day, once again surrounded on all sides, he broke the attack of strong infantry and tank forces and thereafter restored contact with the outside by storming a particularly heavily fortified strongpoint of the enemy. Oberstleutnant Baacke led his Grenadier-Regiment from the foremost line during all these battles, and throughout this time he inspired his Grenadiers to high achievements despite their having been engaged in continuous combat for 14 days.”
Source :
Denis Daum photo collection
https://www.schoenicke.eu/postkarte-ritterkreuztrager-kapitanleutnant-von-bulow-56.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28150/Baacke-Karl.htm
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