Franz Zejdlik
Date of Birth: 20.10.1906 - Voitsberg, Steiermark (Austria-Hungary)
Date of Death: 08.09.1978 - Krems an der Donau, Niederösterreich (Austria)
Promotions:
00.00.1925 Wachtmeister (Austrian Bundesheer)
15.08.1931 Leutnant (Austrian Bundesheer)
15.08.1935 Oberleutnant (Austrian Bundesheer)
01.06.1938 Hauptmann
01.01.1942 Major
01.11.1942 Oberstleutnant
01.06.1956 Oberstleutnant (Austrian Bundesheer)
06.03.1957 Oberst (Austrian Bundesheer)
01.07.1963 Brigadier (Austrian Bundesheer)
Career:
02.03.1925 Joined the Austrian Bundesheer and posted in Pionier-Bataillon 5 in Graz
01.09.1929 Offiziersausbildung (Officer training) in Heeresschule Enns
00.00.1931 Zugskommandant in Pionier-Bataillon 4 in Linz
01.07.1932 Transferred back to Pionier-Bataillon 5 in Graz
00.10.1934 Training officer for the one-year volunteer courses
00.03.1938 Became the member of the Wehrmacht after Anschluss
00.05.1938 Transferred to Pionier-Bataillon 32 (mot.) in Schwedt/Oder
00.00.194_ After several assignments in a Panzer division as a company commander and battalion commander, he became commander of a grenadier regiment. Further functions followed in Heeresgruppe C as staff officer to the Generals der Pioniere und Festungen (General of Engineers and Fortresses), and later he came to the Army High Command. He taught at Pioneer School 1 as a tactics instructor for battalion and regimental leader courses and then became commander of Pioneer School 3.
15.07.1946 Joined the Oberösterreichische Landesbaudirektion
00.00.1950 Awarded the professional title of Ingenieur (engineer)
00.00.1952 Technischen Oberinspektor responsible for audits of water and waterworks cooperatives
01.06.1956 Joined the post-war Austrian Bundesheer as Oberstleutnant
26.08.1956 Kommandeur 3. Infanterie-Brigade (mot.) in commissioned in Krems-Mautern, later renamed the 3. Panzer-Brigade and then the 3. Panzergrenadier-Brigade
00.00.1956 - 00.00.1963 At the same time, Militärkommandant von Niederösterreich
01.10.1964 - 31.12.1971 Again, Militärkommandant von Niederösterreich
Awards and Decorations:
00.00.193_ Silberne Medaille für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich
00.00.19__ Panzerkampfabzeichen
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.19__ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
04.10.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Major and Kommandeur Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 51 / 23.Panzer-Division. On 20.07.1942 the Vorausabteilung of the 23. Panzer-Division (consisting of the division's Pionier-Bataillon, Kradschützen-Bataillon and a Panzerjäger Kompanie), under the command of Major Zejdlik, was ordered to cross the Don at Nikolayevskaya and secure a bridgehead over the river. The town was reached at 1900 that day, though still defended by the Soviets. They were cleared out during the night. Shortly afterwards the Germans secured a 10-ton ferry intact, and using this as well as inflatable sacks, Zejdlik sent a company of motorcycle troops over the river against the Soviet positions there. They were able to secure a weak bridgehead, which was strengthened during the night. Zejdlik realized that creating a viable bridgehead here would only be possible if the 7 km distant towns of Karenchov and Worosoff were captured, due to the swampy terrain immediately adjacent to the river. As such he decided to launch an attack on these positions at dawn with only part of his Vorausabteilung, despite the flank threat to the tenuous bridgehead. The gamble payed off however and both towns were taken. The following night the Soviets attempted to counterattack with tanks and infantry. Zejdlik launched a counterattack against these forces, capturing or dispersing the infantry and destroying 6 tanks. Exploiting the confusion Zejdlik led his Kradschützen in pursuit, and they captured the 3 km distant village of Dolschowskaya. By this action the security of the bridgehead was thus guaranteed. During the battle to capture the bridgehead the following losses were inflicted on the Soviets: 2 officers and 680 men captured, 220 enemy dead counted, 7 field guns (6.62 cm), 6 AT guns, 35 AT rifles, 1 heavy machine gun, and numerous mortars. By this action Zejdlik far exceeded his original mission of forming a limited bridgehead over the Don, all the more remarkable due to his lack of experience in leading infantry formations. This bridgehead would later be of great operational importance to both the division and the whole of the XXXX. Panzerkorps. In addition to this act, in a subsequent battle Major Zejdlik distinguished himself further. Taking over the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 126 (whose commander had become a casualty), he led friendly forces to victory during a bitter battle to conquer a Soviet hilltop position. 1,000 prisoners, 6 field guns and numerous AT guns and rifles were captured. For these achievements Major Zejdlik would be awarded the Ritterkreuz.
00.00.19__ Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich
00.00.19__ Wehrdienstzeichen
00.00.19__ Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um das Bundesland Niederösterreich
00.00.19__ Verdienstzeichen des Österreichischen Bundesfeuerwehrverbandes
00.00.19__ Verdienstzeichen des Niederösterreichischen Landesfeuerwehrverbandes
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After elementary school and community school, Franz Zejdlik attended three semesters of mechanical engineering at the Höheren technischen Bundes-Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt (Higher Technical Federal Teaching and Research Institute) in Graz-Gösting. Due to his father's accident, he dropped out of school and worked as a technical employee in a construction company.
On March 2, 1925, he joined the Austrian Armed Forces and achieved the rank of Wachtmeister in the Pionier-Bataillon 5 in Graz. On September 1, 1929, he began officer training at what was then the Enns Army School, where he was promoted as a Leutnant and "best of the year" on August 15, 1931.
Franz Zejdlik was assigned as a platoon commander to the Pionier-Bataillon 4 in Linz, but at his own request was transferred back to the Pionier-Bataillon 5 in Graz on July 1, 1932. In October 1934 he was assigned as a training officer for the one-year volunteer courses. On August 15, 1935 he was promoted to first lieutenant. For his services in training he received the Silver Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria.
After Austria was annexed to the German Empire, he was taken over by the Wehrmacht. In May 1938 he came to Schwedt/Oder to the Pioneer Battalion 32 (motorized) of the 2nd Infantry Division (motorized), later the 12th Panzer Division. On June 1, 1938 he was promoted to Hauptmann.
After several assignments in a tank division as a company commander and battalion commander, he became commander of a grenadier regiment. Further functions followed in Army Group C as staff officer to the General of Engineers and Fortresses, and later he came to the Army High Command.
He taught at Pioneer School 1 as a tactics instructor for battalion and regimental leader courses and then became commander of Pioneer School 3.
On January 1, 1942, Franz Zejdlik was promoted to major and, as commander of Panzerpionier Battalion 51 of the 23rd Panzer Division, received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on April 10, 1942. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant on November 1, 1942.
After the end of the Second World War, Franz Zejdlik worked in an architectural office. He joined the Upper Austrian State Building Directorate on July 15, 1946 and became a clerk for the land improvement cadastre. After graduating from high school in 1948, he was awarded the professional title of engineer in 1950. In 1952 he was appointed chief technical inspector. He was then responsible for audits of water and waterworks cooperatives.
On June 1, 1956, Franz Zejdlik was called up as a Oberstleutnant in the Federal Army of the Second Republic and from August 26, 1956 he was in charge of the 3rd Infantry Brigade (mot), which was later renamed the 3rd Armored Brigade and then the 3rd Armored Grenadier Brigade , commissioned in Krems-Mautern.
On March 6, 1957 he was promoted to Oberst.
From 1956 to 1963, in addition to his role in the brigade, he was also the military commander of Lower Austria. It was not until 1963 that this position was filled independently by Brigadier Ignaz Reichel. After being promoted to brigadier on July 1, 1963, he became military commander of Lower Austria again on October 1, 1964. He handed this post over to his successor Brigadier Herbert Müller-Elblein on December 31, 1971.
Franz Zejdlik in Lindau 1943.
Source :
https://www.bmlv.gv.at/sk/lask/brigaden/pzgrenbrig3/brigade.shtml
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Zejdlik
https://www.ebay.com/itm/145228018807
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2493591#p2493591
https://reibert.info/media/franz-zejdlik-jpg.430030/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/82037/Zejdlik-Franz.htm
