Franz Bäke " Generalmajor der Reserve " Dr . med . dent . Franz Bäke ( 28 February 1898 – 12 December 1978 ) was a German Army officer and panzer ace . He was also a recipient of the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords . The Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership . Bäke fought during World War I , but rose to fame for his command of heavy panzer forces in World War II . A reservist , Bäke was a dentist in civilian life , having received his doctorate in dental medicine in 1923 . Early life . Bäke was born in Schwarzenfels ( a part of Sinntal , Main - Kinzig - Kreis , Hesse ) in the kreis of Fulda in Hesse - Nassau . After attending school and receiving excellent grades , Bäke planned on a career in medicine . First World War . In August 1914 , the outbreak of World War I changed his plans . In May 1915 , Bäke volunteered for the German Army . He was posted to " Infanterie - Regiment Nr . 3 " , based in Köln . After basic training , Bäke was transferred to " Infanterie - Regiment Nr . 11 " , which was in action on the Western Front . During his service with IR11 , he was awarded the Iron Cross , 2nd class , for bravery in combat in the battles near Verdun for the towns of Fleury and Thiaumont . In mid - 1916 , Bäke accepted an offer to become an officer candidate and was briefly transferred to " Infanterie - Regiment Nr . 10 " . In November 1916 , Bäke was transferred to the artillery arm and served with " Artillerie - Regiment zu Fuß Nr . 7 " . In early 1918 , he was wounded twice and was only returned to the front in September . After the armistice , Bäke remained in the army until his demobilisation in January 1919 . Inter - war years . Bäke returned to his studies in medicine . During his first semester in university , he was involved with Freikorps " Epp " , but soon turned his full attention to his studies . In 1922 , he passed the state examination , and in 1923 received his doctorate in dental medicine , receiving the Dr . med . dent . professional prefix to his name . After receiving his credentials , Bäke established his own dentistry practice in Hagen , which became quite successful . Bäke remained immersed in his dental practice during the tumultuous events of 1933 to 1936 , but in early 1937 he applied to join the reserves , being accepted on 1 April 1937 . Bäke was given his World War I rank of officer cadet and posted to Aufklärungs - Abteilung 6 , a reconnaissance unit . He took part in large scale maneuvers in late April 1937 . He was again called to participate in large scale maneuvers which took place in June 1937 . After these two major exercises , Bäke returned to his dentistry practice , spending the required time in reserve training to achieve the rank of " Leutnant der Reserve " ( 2nd lieutenant ) by December 1937 . Soon after , he was mobilized for full - time service as an officer . On 1 January 1938 , Bäke was transferred to Panzer - Abteilung 65 , where he served as platoon leader of the Abt ' s light column . During the bloodless invasion of the Sudetenland , he acted as the deputy company commander of 3 . / Panzer - Abteilung 65 . Second World War . Early campaigns . With the outbreak of war on 1 September 1939 , Bäke was still with Panzer - Abteilung 65 . During the Invasion of Poland , he acted as the leader of the light column during the initial operations , before transferring to a platoon command in the Abteilung ' s second company . Equipped with Czech - made Panzerkampfwagen 35 ( t ) tanks , the Abteilung was attached to " General der Panzertruppen " Werner Kempf ' s 1 . leichte - Division on 12 September , and completed the campaign serving under Kempf ' s formation , Panzer - Division " Kempf " . Showing promise as a panzer leader during the campaign , on 1 November 1939 he was promoted to " Oberleutnant der Reserve " ( 1st lieutenant ) and appointed company commander . In October 1939 , 1 . Leichte - Division was redesignated 6 . Panzer - Division . Panzer - Abt 65 formed an integral part of this new division . On 1 May 1940 , Bäke was promoted to " Hauptmann der Reserve " ( captain ) . On 10 May 1940 , Bäke and 6 . Panzer took part in Fall Gelb , the invasion of France . 6 . Panzer formed a part of Panzergruppe Guderian , an army - sized formation charged with attacking through the Ardennes and encircling the Allied forces engaged in combat in Belgium . During the blitzkrieg campaign , Bäke , in command of 1 . Kompanie , seized an undamaged bridge over the Meuse at Arques . In the following weeks in combat , he was wounded twice ( on 17 and 19 May ) , receiving the Wound Badge in gold . For his actions in securing the bridge , Bäke was awarded the Iron Cross first class . Barbarossa - Typhoon . Following the campaign in the West , 6 . Panzer was moved to East Prussia , where it undertook refitting in preparation for the coming offensive against the Soviet Union . Bäke was appointed to the staff of 6 . Panzer ' s Panzer - Regiment 11 , being responsible for the recovery of damaged tanks . With the launch of Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941 , 6 . Panzer took part in Army Group North ' s strike towards Leningrad , being involved in heavy fighting . On 1 August 1941 , Bäke was promoted to " Major der Reserve " . The job of a tank recovery unit was both difficult and dangerous . Generally under the cover of darkness , damaged or abandoned tanks had to be towed back to the division ' s maintenance area to be repaired . These tanks were most frequently located close to the enemy , and so care had to be taken to make as little noise as possible . The German panzer recovery system was very effective early in the war , with tanks being recovered , repaired and ready for action in as little as 24 hours . In October 1941 , 6 . Panzer was transferred to Army Group Centre , where it formed a part of Panzergruppe 3 , commanded by General Georg - Hans Reinhardt . The Panzergruppe was tasked with Operation Typhoon , an offensive aimed at the capture of Moscow . On 27 November , elements of the Panzergruppe reached the Volga Canal , only from Moscow . Soviet resistance hardened , however , and the offensive failed . In November 1941 , Bäke was appointed to the position of " Ordonnanz - Offizier " for Panzer - Regiment 11 . The " Ordonnanz - Offizier " was responsible for the completion of special missions required by the division . This position required Bäke to lead ad hoc Kampfgruppe n in dangerous and vital missions . 6 . Panzer ended the campaign as part of General Erich Höpner ' s Panzergruppe 4 , acting as a reserve for Army Group Centre forces attempting to hold the line against fierce Soviet counterattacks . The division ' s tanks and men suffered greatly from the cold , but despite this they managed to continue to operate throughout the winter of 1941 / 42 . Refit - stabilizing the Eastern Front . After the defensive battles near Moscow during the winter , the severely depleted 6 . Panzer was ordered back to France to rest and rebuild . On 1 June 1942 , Bäke was promoted to commander of II . / Abteilung of Panzer - Regiment 11 . Bäke spent the majority of 1942 overseeing the rebuilding of his shattered Abt and familiarizing himself with his new command . After the encirclement of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad , 6 . Panzer , now fully reformed , was sent to Ukraine to join " Generaloberst " Erich von Manstein ' s Army Group Don , currently struggling to halt the advancing Soviet forces . The division arrived at the front in December 1942 and was immediately thrown into heavy fighting , taking part in the abortive attempt to relieve the 6th Army : Operation Wintergewitter . Bäke , commanding II . / Panzer - Regiment 11 , showed great skill as a tank commander , inflicting heavy losses on the advancing Soviets during the fighting withdrawal to Kharkov and preventing a large scale breakthrough . On 11 January 1943 , Bäke was awarded the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross for his efforts during these battles . The division took part in the battle to retake Kharkov . The performance of Bäke ' s Abt , fighting alongside the SS - Panzerkorps and Panzergrenadier - Division " Großdeutschland " , measured up to the fighting reputation of these elite units . After the destruction of Mobile Group Popov and the recapture of the city , 6 . Panzer was attached to Armee - Abteilung " Kempf " . During May , the division was pulled back to act as reserve when it was rested and refitted . Bäke had by now built himself a reputation as one of the army ' s most capable tank commanders . Kursk - Panzer - Regiment " Bäke " . In June , 6 . Panzer was attached to 4 . Panzer - Armee under General Colonel Hermann Hoth . 4 . Panzer - Armee was to form the southern pincer of the attack on the Kursk salient , Operation Citadel . Bäke led his Abt through fierce fighting against the entrenched Soviet forces near Belgorod . On 13 July 1943 , he was wounded , but remained with the unit . On 14 July , the commander of Panzer - Regiment 11 was severely wounded , and command of the regiment was temporarily delegated to Bäke . During the ferocious armored battles , Bäke led the regiment and proved himself a capable regimental commander . The offensive was cancelled on 13 August 1943 , and Bäke ' s regiment saw heavy combat during the withdrawal to the Dniepr . For his actions during Operation Citadel , Bäke was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight ' s Cross . On 1 November 1943 Bäke , was promoted to " Oberstleutnant der Reserve " ( lieutenant colonel ) and his command of the regiment was made official . In December 1943 , he was ordered to begin formation of an ad hoc reinforced tank regiment named Heavy Panzer Regiment Bäke [ Schweres - Panzer - Regiment Bäke ] . The regiment consisted of 46 Panther and 34 Tiger I tanks , supported by self - propelled artillery and a mechanized engineer battalion . The regiment was to be used in " fire - brigade " duties in the southern sector of the Eastern front . In January 1944 , Bäke commanded his regiment during the battles for the Balabonowka pocket . During the five - day battle , Bäke ' s regiment was credited with destroying 268 Soviet tanks for the loss of only four tanks . Bäke single - handedly destroyed three Soviet tanks during the battle with infantry weapons at close range , for which he received three Tank Destruction Badge s , worn on his upper right sleeve . Next , the regiment was sent to the area of Korsun - Cherkassy , where " Gruppe Stemmermann " had been encircled in the Cherkassy Pocket . Together with a Kampfgruppe of the 1 . SS - Panzer - Division " Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler " , Bäke ' s tanks opened a route of escape for the trapped Germans and held it open while many escaped . During this month , his regiment was credited with the destruction of 500 Soviet tanks and assault guns . For his actions during these battles , Bäke received the Swords to the Knight ' s Cross on 14 February 1944 , he was the 49th Wehrmacht soldier to receive this commendation . In March , the regiment was trapped in the Kamenets - Podolsky Pocket along with the entire 1 . Panzer - Armee . Bäke ' s regiment formed one of the spearheads moving west to break the encirclement , and effected a link up with II . SS - Panzerkorps , creating an escape route for the army . " Feldherrnhalle " commands . On 1 May 1944 , Bäke was promoted to " Oberst der Reserve " . His regiment was involved in fierce defensive battles for the rest of the month , after which it was disbanded and the component units sent back to their parent divisions . Bäke was ordered west to take command of 106 . Panzer - Brigade " Feldherrnhalle " , which was forming in Mława . The " Feldherrnhalle " units were formed from a cadre of ex - SA men , and as such Bäke was granted the honorary SA rank of " SA - Sanitäts - Standartenführer " . The brigade was equipped with the latest Panther models as well as a battalion of fully mechanized infantry . Bäke ' s brigade fought several actions against General George Patton ' s US Third Army . Bäke made an ill - advised attack on the U . S . 90th Infantry Division near Aumetz on the night of September 7 – 8 , 1944 . Expecting the American infantry to be routed once the German tanks were among them , Bäke ' s command found itself poorly deployed and under sustained counter - attack from veteran American infantry . By the evening of September 8 , Bäke had lost thirty tanks , sixty half - tracks , and nearly a hundred other vehicles in the lopsided battle . His infantry losses were also heavy , with the unit reporting to OB West that it had only nine armored vehicles and that unit strength was down to 25 per cent of the authorized establishment . Despite the brigade ' s efforts , the front lines were gradually pushed back . On 1 January 1945 , Bäke transferred from reserve to active duty , and as such was referred to as only " Oberst " . In late January , Bäke took a training course in divisional command , and on 9 March he was given command of the newly formed Panzer - Division " Feldherrnhalle 2 " and sent to Hungary . Bäke ' s division fought as part of the Panzerkorps " Feldherrnhalle " during the retreat through Hungary and Czechoslovakia . On 20 April , Bäke was promoted to " Generalmajor " . He led the remnants of his division in a successful breakout attempt towards the west , and on 8 May 1945 surrendered to American forces . Post - war . Bäke spent several years as a prisoner of war , being released in 1950 . He returned to Hagen and resumed his dental practice . He died in a car accident in 1978 . The Bundeswehr provided an honour guard at his funeral .