| Franz Budka | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 August 1920 Vienna |
| Died | 6 May 1945 Breslau |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Obersturmführer |
| Unit | SS Fortress Regiment 1 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I class Iron Cross II class |
Franz Budka was a Obersturmführer in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II.
Franz Budka was born on 18 August 1920, in Vienna. During World War II he was the commander of the 1st Company, SS Fortress Regiment 1 which was involved in the 82 day Siege of Breslau. Franz Budka positioned his men in the cellar of a destroyed building in Augusta Strasse. While the entire structure above them continued to burn, the men of Budkas company repelled many attacks inflicting heavy losses on the Red Army (the temperature of the burning building approached 120-140 °C). The Red Army managed to take control of a building nearby and Budka launched an immediate attack against them only a few managed to escape. His company resisted every attack by the Red Army for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross in April 1945. He committed suicide during an attempted breakout from Breslau on 6 May 1945, after being seriously wounded after stepping on a mine, he shot himself.[1] [2]