Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 36, 9. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 21st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 7th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 36, 9.Volksgrenadier-Division

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1945

Baier’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“During the time period 28.12.1944-19.01.1945 the Grenadier-Regiment 36 was involved in fierce and fluid defensive combat south of Wiltz. The unit was up against an enemy force that struck from the Nothum area with overwhelming artillery, infantry and tank forces. Their goal was to break through the positions of the Regiment, advance through Trentelhof and Berle, reach the east-west road at Donkholz and thereby sever the only logistics route that led to those friendly Divisionen fighting southeast of Bastogne.

The massive enemy artillery fire and the associated difficulties of digging in on rocky ground led to high casualties in Grenadier-Regiment 36 during the first days of combat. However, under the brave leadership of Major Baier, the Regiment was nonetheless able to eliminate or seal-off those enemy penetrations that occurred in these early days. Major Baier himself launched a number of counterthrusts with his weak regimental reserve that consisted of 20-30 men at any given time.

On the 04.01.1945 the enemy commenced a major assault with infantry and tank forces in the wake of a major artillery preparation. The Regiment had been heavily weakened by the barrage as well as the heavy fighting of the previous days, and despite bitter resistance the enemy achieved a deep penetration that extended forward up to the regimental command post at Trentelhof.

In this seemingly hopeless situation, Major Baier rallied all soldiers that could be found in his vicinity. Clerks, drivers, crews of knocked out heavy infantry weapons, etc. With these men he launched a deliberate counterattack at dusk with loud cries of ‘Hurra’.

Baier’s own fighting spirit turned his group of soldiers into an unstoppable tide, and for their part the enemy was surprised by what they had thought to be an impossible eventuality. They were thrown back beyond the original friendly frontline to the line Grund (800 metres west of Nothum)—Schumann crossroads.

This independent decision to lead a counterthrust in a critical situation with only a few brave soldiers led to the continued frustration of the enemy’s attempts to break through to Donkholz. Thus the rearward lines of communication for those friendly Divisionen southeast of Bastogne (namely the 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division, 167. Volksgrenadier-Division and Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler) remained secure.

The high losses incurred during Major Baier’s counterthrust compelled the enemy to delay their offensive operations here until the 09.01.1945.

Major Baier has already previously distinguished himself many times (particularly in crisis situations) during the years of fighting in the east as a Kompanie and Bataillon commander. During the fighting around Putscheid in the time period 21.-24.01.1945 he once again showed himself to be a model of outstanding bravery. Here his independently launched counterthrusts repeatedly thwarted the attempts of much larger enemy forces to break through in the direction of Wahlhausen.

I thus hold Major Baier as particularly worthy for the award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

proposal arrived at HPA via Feldkommandostelle Reichsführer-SS (because it was a Volks-Grenadier-Division) ; Himmler supported it ; comments of all other superiors were lacking and therefore Major Domaschk requested them ; meanwhile the division was disbanded and an award didn't occure ; accepted by OdR in accordance with so-called "Dönitz-Erlass" ; award date determined by Fellgiebel

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 4th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 16th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 24th, 1941

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 3rd, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 22nd, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1938

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 25th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 16th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 31st, 1943