Rudolf Bacherer Explained

Rudolf Bacherer
Birth Date:19 June 1895
Birth Place:Pforzheim
Death Place:Bad Krozingen
Branch:Army
Serviceyears:1914–19
1935–45
Rank:Oberst
Commands:Grenadier-Regiment 1049
Battles:Battle of Saint Malo
Awards:Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Rudolf Gustav Moritz Bacherer (19 June 1895 – 6 July 1964) was a German officer during World War II who held several regimental commands. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

In June 1944 Bacherer was commanding the 1049th Infantry Regiment on the Western Front when Major General Rudolf Stegmann, commander of the 77th Infantry Division was killed in American air raid. Bacherer was promoted to command the division and enjoyed some early successes, capturing 250 American prisoners on 17 June and the following day broke through US lines to link up with the remnants of the LXXXIV Corps near La Haye-du-Puits.[1] The Division however, which was already understrength when Bacherer made his advance soon suffered heavy losses as the Americans forged ahead.[2] Bacherer was captured by American forces following the fall of Saint-Malo in 1944 and was held as a POW until 1947.

Awards

References

Bibliography

. Walther-Peer Fellgiebel . 2000 . 1986 . Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 . The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 . German . Friedberg, Germany . Podzun-Pallas . 978-3-7909-0284-6.

Notes and References

  1. [Samuel W. Mitcham]
  2. Mitcham, Rommel's Last Battle, p. 153
  3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 20.
  4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 102.
  5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 73.