"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 6th Mountain Division." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation awarded on June 30th, 1941 as Hauptmann in the Grenz Infantry Regiment 124 of the 72nd Infantry Division.
"As the battle with the 72th Infantry Division 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 strong point of the
enemy. Oberstleutnant Baacke led his 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." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves citation, awarded on December 10th, 1943 as Oberstleutnant of the 266 Grenadier Regiment, 72th Infantry Division.
He also received the German Cross in Gold on February 28th, 1943 as Major of Grenadier Regiment 266 of the 72th Infantry Division.
Another deadly enemy elite,
Brian
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