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| Hermann Balck
- Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds |
|
| Rank:
Lt. General (General der Panzertruppe) |
| Date
of Award: August 31, 1944 |
| Cross
Class: Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds |
| Branch
of Service: Army Wehrmacht |
Description
of Action: Balck entered the Imperial German army in 1913 as an officer candidate. He served as a company grade officer in World War I, ending in command of a machine-gun company. At the outbreak of World War II in 1939 Balck was in the OKH (High Command of the German Army) and was transferred to the command of Schützenregiment 1 (motorised rifle regiment 1) in 1. Panzerdivision in late October 1939, where he served during the Battle of France. His unit was closely involved in the German Sichelschnitt plan, and led the Sedan crossing.
During the winter and spring of 1940 - 1 he commanded Panzerregiment 3 during the Battle of Greece, and later 2. Panzerbrigade. He returned to staff duties in the Inspectorate of Armoured Forces in the OKH in July 1941. In May 1942, Balck went to the Eastern Front and commanded the 11. Panzer Division in Ukraine and southern Russia. He was removed into officer reserve, but immediately given command of Panzergrenadierdivision Grossdeutschland in the east. After a brief spell in Italy he came to command the 48th Panzer Corps in the east in December 1943, and finally 4th Panzer Army from August 1944. During this time his Division or Panzerkorps engaged in the defense against the Soviet breakthrough at Stalingrad, and the attempt to relieve Stalingrad in late 1942, the defense against the Soviet breakthrough across the Dnieper, and the counterattack at Zhitomir in 1943, as well as the defense against the Soviet winter/spring offensive in western Ukraine in 1944, where Balck was one of the two commanders responsible for the disastrous attempt to create and hold a Fester Platz at Tarnopol. In July 1944 Balck commanded the 48. Panzerkorps during the initial phase of the Soviet Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive. Balck was closely involved in the failed defense, and the unsuccessful attempt to relieve the encircled 13. Armeekorps at Brody which was destroyed.
He was transferred from command of the 4th Panzer Army in Poland to the command of Army Group G in the Alsace region of France in September 1944. In late December Balck was relieved of his command and transferred back to the Eastern Front and demoted to command Army Group Balck in Hungary. Balck was captured in Austria by American troops on 8 May 1945. Ref Wikipedia |
| Mini
Biography: |
| http://www.wargamer.com/Hosted/Panzer/balck.html |
| From:
Second World War Award Winners |
| Listing
Date: Jun 27, 2008 |
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