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Baumgärtel, Werner

Date of birth:
September 3rd, 1920 (Asch, Alb-Donau, Germany)
Date of death:
March 16th, 1945 (Hökendorf/Klęskowo, Poland)
Buried on:
Soviet War Cemetery Gryfino
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
SS-Oberscharführer - RFA
01.09.1943: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve

Career:
1942-1943: SS-Art.Rgt.5 - 5. SS-Panzer Division 'Wiking'
09.1944: Untersturmführer d.R. and Chef 1./ SS-Panzer Pionier Bataillon 10 - 10. SS Pz.Gren.Div. 'Frundsberg' during the Battle of Nijmegen - Holland

On 18 September 1944, General Model sent reinforcements from Arnhem to keep the Waal Bridge out of the Allies' hands. Because elements of the British 1st Airborne Division were still in control of the Arnhem bridge at the time, the 1. Kompagnie SS-Panzer-Pionier-Abteilung commanded by SS-Untersturmführer Werner Baumgärtel and the 2. Bataillon SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 19 under leadership of SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl-Heinz Euling crossed the Rhine at Pannerden as the 500 man strong 'Kampfgruppe Euling', used the still intact Waal Bridge and dug in at the Hunnerpark. These reinforcements enabled the SS to regroup under the command of Sturmbannführer Leo Reinhold, who set up his headquarters on the north Waal bank. Fallschirmjäger Oberst Henke prepared the Railway Bridge's defences. The two roundabouts and beltway were reinforced during the next 48 hours. The Americans would have to wait for the XXX Corps' help in taking the bridges, even though according to the planning, they should have been captured before the British arrival.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
SS-Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 10, 10. SS Panzer Division 'Frundsberg'
Awarded on:
December 30th, 1944
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Sources

Photo