Johannes Bäßler
| Johannes Bäßler | |
|---|---|
| Born |
3 May 1892 Grasegrund, Silesia |
| Died |
9 November 1944 (aged 52) Vienna |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918).svg.png){kind=small} Weimar Republic (to 1920).svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1914–44 |
| Rank | Generalleutnant |
| Commands held |
9. Panzer-Division 14. Panzer-Division 242. Infanterie-Division |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards | German Cross in Gold |
Johannes Bäßler (3 May 1892 – 9 November 1944) was a decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II, who commanded two panzer divisions. He was also a recipient of the German Cross.
World War II
Oberst Johannes Bäßler served as Chief of Staff of XI Army Corps at the start of World War II, and participated in the Invasion of Poland in this capacity, during which he was awarded the Iron Cross, First Class and Second Class. He remained in the General Staff of XI Corps until 21 February 1942, and participated in the Battle of France, the Invasion of Yugoslavia, and Operation Barbarossa, the latter as part of Army Group South. He was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 February 1942.[1][2]
Bäßler took command of 9th Panzer Division on 15 April 1942 in the area east of Kursk, around the town of Shchigry on the Eastern Front. In July 1942 the unit was involved in heavy fighting to secure the German northern flank around Zemlyansk, northwest of Voronezh, when Bäßler was seriously wounded and had to leave his command on 27 July 1942.[3] After recuperating, on 16 November 1942, he took command of 14th Panzer Division until 26 November 1942, when the division was put into reserve in the Don River curve behind the Romanian front in the area.[4] He was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 9 January 1943 for his actions commanding the 9th Panzer Division.[1][2]
He returned to active duty in June 1943, and was assigned to command 242th Infantry Division in the Toulon, France on 7 July 1943. In conducting the defense of the city and port against advancing American and French forces, Generalleutnant Bäßler (promoted on 1 February 1944) was critically wounded on 26 August 1944, and died of his wounds in a reserve hospital in Vienna on 9 November 1944.[1][2]
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1914)
- Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
- Iron Cross (1939)
- German Cross in Gold (1 August 1943)
References
- 1 2 3 "Johannes Bäßler". ABR (in German). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Johannes Bäßler". www.lexicon-der-wehrmacht.de (in German). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ↑ Glantz, David M.; House, Jonathan (2009). To the Gates of Stalingrad: Soviet-German Combat Operations, April-August 1942. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. p. 26. ISBN 9780700616305.
- ↑ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2006). The Panzer Legions: A Guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of World War II and Their Commanders. Stackpole Books. p. 98. ISBN 9780811733533.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Generalleutnant Alfred Ritter von Hubicki |
Commander of 9. Panzer-Division 14 April 1942 – 26 July 1942 |
Succeeded by Generalmajor Heinrich-Hermann von Hülsen |
| Preceded by Generalleutnant Hans Freiherr von Falkenstein |
Commander of 14. Panzer-Division 16 November 1942 – 26 November 1942 |
Succeeded by Generalmajor Martin Lattmann |