Hermann Balck
Encyclopedia
Hermann Balck was a career German army officer who served in both World War I
and World War II
, rising to the rank of General der Panzertruppe
. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
. His father was Generalleutnant and Knight of the Order Pour le Mérite
William Balck
.
, he entered the Imperial German
army in 1913 as an officer candidate. He served as a company grade officer in World War I
, ending in command of a machine-gun company. His unit was closely involved in the German Schlieffen Plan
, and led the Sedan
crossing. Balck was nominated for the Pour le Mérite
in October 1918.
At the outbreak of World War II
in 1939 Balck was in the OKH (High Command of the German Army) and was transferred to the command of Schützenregiment 1 (motorized rifle regiment 1) in 1. Panzerdivision in late October 1939, where he served during the Battle of France
.
During the winter and spring of 1940 - 1 he commanded Panzerregiment 3
during the Battle of Greece
, and later 2. Panzerbrigade. He returned to staff duties in the Inspectorate of Armoured Forces in the OKH in July 1941. In May 1942, Balck went to the Eastern Front
and commanded the 11. Panzer Division in Ukraine
and southern Russia
. He was removed into officer reserve, but immediately given command of Panzergrenadierdivision Grossdeutschland
in the east. After a brief spell in Italy
he came to command the 48th Panzer Corps in the east in December 1943, and finally 4th Panzer Army from August 1944. During this time his Division or Panzerkorps engaged in the defense against the Soviet breakthrough at Stalingrad
, and the attempt to relieve Stalingrad in late 1942, the defense against the Soviet breakthrough across the Dnieper, and the counterattack at Zhitomir in 1943, as well as the defense against the Soviet winter/spring offensive in western Ukraine in 1944. In July 1944 Balck commanded the 48. Panzerkorps during the initial phase of the Soviet Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
. Balck was closely involved in the failed defense, and the unsuccessful attempt to relieve the encircled 13. Armeekorps at Brody
which was destroyed.
He was transferred from command of the 4th Panzer Army in Poland
to the command of Army Group
G in the Alsace
region of France
in September 1944. In late December Balck was relieved of his command and transferred back to the Eastern Front and demoted to command Army Group Balck in Hungary
. Balck was captured in Austria
by American
troops on 8 May 1945.
After the war he became a depot worker. In 1948 he was arrested, tried and convicted for murder for the execution by firing squad, without proper trial, of the artillery commander Lieutenant-Colonel Johann Schottke, who was found drunk on duty, on 28 November 1944 near Saarbrücken
. This incident occurred while Balck was serving as commander of Army Group G on the western front. He served half of his sentence.
Balck was a prime example of a class of German officers who rose rapidly through the ranks during the war, together with Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
and Gerneralobersts Erhard Raus
and Josef Harpe
. Balck started the war as an Oberstleutnant (lieutenant-colonel) in 1939 and ended it as a General der Panzertruppe (lieutenant-general of the armored troops). Balck is often described as a very gifted commander of armoured troops, and his handling of 11. Panzerdivision and 48. Panzerkorps
during 1942-3 would support this view.
Many of the battles Balck participated in are described in Generalmajor Friedrich von Mellenthin
's Panzer Battles. Friedrich von Mellenthin
was Balck's chief of staff for a long time and a fervent admirer of Balck with whom he had a very good working relationship.
Balck's own autobiography is entitled Ordnung im Chaos http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v3=1&ti=1,1&SEQ=20060623015513&Search%5FArg=Balck&Search%5FCode=NAME%5F&CNT=25&PID=24214&SID=1.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, rising to the rank of General der Panzertruppe
General der Panzertruppe
General der Panzertruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1935. As the commander of a Panzer Corp this rank corresponds to a US Army Lieutenant-General...
. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. His father was Generalleutnant and Knight of the Order Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
William Balck
William Balck
William Balck was a Prussian officer, and Generalleutnant during World War I.-Awards:* Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class* Wound Badge in Black...
.
Biography
Balck was born in Danzig - LangfuhrWrzeszcz
Wrzeszcz is one of the boroughs of the Northern Polish city of Gdańsk. With a population of more than 65,000 in an area of 9.9 km² , Wrzeszcz is the most populous part of Gdańsk.- History :...
, he entered the Imperial German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
army in 1913 as an officer candidate. He served as a company grade officer in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, ending in command of a machine-gun company. His unit was closely involved in the German Schlieffen Plan
Schlieffen Plan
The Schlieffen Plan was the German General Staff's early 20th century overall strategic plan for victory in a possible future war in which the German Empire might find itself fighting on two fronts: France to the west and Russia to the east...
, and led the Sedan
Sedan, France
Sedan is a commune in France, a sub-prefecture of the Ardennes department in northern France.-Geography:The historic centre is built on a peninsula formed by an arc of the Meuse River. It is around from the Belgian border.-History:...
crossing. Balck was nominated for the Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
in October 1918.
At the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939 Balck was in the OKH (High Command of the German Army) and was transferred to the command of Schützenregiment 1 (motorized rifle regiment 1) in 1. Panzerdivision in late October 1939, where he served during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
.
During the winter and spring of 1940 - 1 he commanded Panzerregiment 3
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
during the Battle of Greece
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
, and later 2. Panzerbrigade. He returned to staff duties in the Inspectorate of Armoured Forces in the OKH in July 1941. In May 1942, Balck went to the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
and commanded the 11. Panzer Division in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and southern Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. He was removed into officer reserve, but immediately given command of Panzergrenadierdivision Grossdeutschland
Großdeutschland Division
The Großdeutschland Division was an elite Heer combat unit of the Wehrmacht. The Großdeutschland was considered to be the premier unit of the German Army and as such it was one of best-equipped unit of the German Armed Forces, receiving equipment before all other units.- Early history -...
in the east. After a brief spell in Italy
Military history of Italy during World War II
During World War II , the Kingdom of Italy had a varied and tumultuous military history. Defeated in Greece, France, East Africa and North Africa, the Italian invasion of British Somaliland was one of the only successful Italian campaigns of World War II accomplished without German support.In...
he came to command the 48th Panzer Corps in the east in December 1943, and finally 4th Panzer Army from August 1944. During this time his Division or Panzerkorps engaged in the defense against the Soviet breakthrough at Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
, and the attempt to relieve Stalingrad in late 1942, the defense against the Soviet breakthrough across the Dnieper, and the counterattack at Zhitomir in 1943, as well as the defense against the Soviet winter/spring offensive in western Ukraine in 1944. In July 1944 Balck commanded the 48. Panzerkorps during the initial phase of the Soviet Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
The Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive or the L'vov-Sandomierz Strategic Offensive Operation was a major Red Army operation to force the German troops from Ukraine and Eastern Poland...
. Balck was closely involved in the failed defense, and the unsuccessful attempt to relieve the encircled 13. Armeekorps at Brody
Brody
Brody is a city in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Brody Raion , and is located in the valley of the upper Styr River, approximately 90 kilometres northeast of the oblast capital, Lviv...
which was destroyed.
He was transferred from command of the 4th Panzer Army in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
to the command of Army Group
Army group
An army group is a military organization consisting of several field armies, which is self-sufficient for indefinite periods. It is usually responsible for a particular geographic area...
G in the Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in September 1944. In late December Balck was relieved of his command and transferred back to the Eastern Front and demoted to command Army Group Balck in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Balck was captured in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
troops on 8 May 1945.
After the war he became a depot worker. In 1948 he was arrested, tried and convicted for murder for the execution by firing squad, without proper trial, of the artillery commander Lieutenant-Colonel Johann Schottke, who was found drunk on duty, on 28 November 1944 near Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
. This incident occurred while Balck was serving as commander of Army Group G on the western front. He served half of his sentence.
Career assessment
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
and Gerneralobersts Erhard Raus
Erhard Raus
Erhard Raus was a Austrian Colonel General during World War II. He commanded the 6th Panzer Division during the early years of the war on the Eastern Front before taking Army and Army Group commands....
and Josef Harpe
Josef Harpe
Josef Harpe was a German Generaloberst who served during World War I and World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
. Balck started the war as an Oberstleutnant (lieutenant-colonel) in 1939 and ended it as a General der Panzertruppe (lieutenant-general of the armored troops). Balck is often described as a very gifted commander of armoured troops, and his handling of 11. Panzerdivision and 48. Panzerkorps
Panzerkorps
A panzer corps was a military formation type in the German Wehrmacht during World War II. The name was introduced in 1942, when the motorised corps were renamed to panzer corps. Panzer corps were created throughout the war, and existed in all service arms of the Wehrmacht except the Navy...
during 1942-3 would support this view.
Many of the battles Balck participated in are described in Generalmajor Friedrich von Mellenthin
Friedrich von Mellenthin
Friedrich Wilhelm von Mellenthin was a Generalmajor in the German Army during World War II. A participant in most of the major campaigns of the war, he became well-known afterwards for his memoirs Panzer Battles, first published in 1956 and regularly reprinted since then.- Early life :Mellenthin...
's Panzer Battles. Friedrich von Mellenthin
Friedrich von Mellenthin
Friedrich Wilhelm von Mellenthin was a Generalmajor in the German Army during World War II. A participant in most of the major campaigns of the war, he became well-known afterwards for his memoirs Panzer Battles, first published in 1956 and regularly reprinted since then.- Early life :Mellenthin...
was Balck's chief of staff for a long time and a fervent admirer of Balck with whom he had a very good working relationship.
Balck's own autobiography is entitled Ordnung im Chaos http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v3=1&ti=1,1&SEQ=20060623015513&Search%5FArg=Balck&Search%5FCode=NAME%5F&CNT=25&PID=24214&SID=1.
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1914)- 2nd Class (15 October 1914)
- 1st Class (26 November 1914)
- Hohenzollernorden mit SchwerternHouse Order of HohenzollernThe House Order of Hohenzollern was an order of chivalry of the House of Hohenzollern. It was both a military and a civil award...
(3 December 1917) - Bayerisches Militärverdienstkreuz mit SchwerternMilitary Merit Order (Bavaria)The Bavarian Military Merit Order was established on July 19, 1866 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was the kingdom's main decoration for bravery and military merit for officers and higher-ranking officials. Civilians acting in support of the army were also made eligible for the decoration...
(15 November 1914) - Österreichischer Militärverdienstorden 3rd ClassMilitary Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary)The Military Merit Cross was a decoration of the Empire of Austria and, after the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867, the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was first established on October 22, 1849 and underwent several revisions to its design and award criteria over the years of its existence...
(28 February 1916) - Bulgarischer Tapferkeitsorden 3. Class mit Schwertern (2 December 1941)
- VerwundetenabzeichenWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
(1914) in Gold (10 May 1918) - Panzer BadgePanzer BadgeThe Panzer Badge was a German medal awarded to armour troops during World War II. It was introduced during World War II in December 1939 .- History :The Tank Combat Badge, or Panzer Badge, first existed in the German Army during World War I, and was later...
in Silver (14 October 1940) - Clasp to the Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class (12 May 1940)
- 1st Class (13 May 1940)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and DiamondsKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 3 June 1940 as OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
and commander of Schützen-Regiment 1 - 155th Oak Leaves on 20 December 1942 as Generalmajor and commander of the 11. Panzer-Division
- 25th Swords on 4 March 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 11. Panzer-Division and XXXXVIII. Armeekorps
- 19th Diamonds on 31 August 1944 as General der PanzertruppeGeneral der PanzertruppeGeneral der Panzertruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1935. As the commander of a Panzer Corp this rank corresponds to a US Army Lieutenant-General...
and acting commander of the 4. Panzerarmee
- Knight's Cross on 3 June 1940 as Oberstleutnant
- Mentioned four times in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
Dates of rank
| 20 September 1916: | Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) |
| 1 May 1924: | Oberleutnant Oberleutnant Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty... (First Lieutenant) |
| 1 February 1929: | Rittmeister Rittmeister Rotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different... (Captain of Cavalry) |
| 1 June 1935: | Major Major (Germany) Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer.... (Major) |
| 23 January 1938: | Oberstleutnant Oberstleutnant Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant... (Lieutenant Colonel) |
| 1 Oberst 1940: | Oberst Oberst Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti... (Colonel) |
| 15 July 1942: | Generalmajor (US Equivalent - Brigadier General) |
| 21 January 1943: | Generalleutnant (Major General) |
| 12 November 1943: | General der Panzertruppe General der Panzertruppe General der Panzertruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1935. As the commander of a Panzer Corp this rank corresponds to a US Army Lieutenant-General... (Lieutenant General of Armoured Troops) |
Works
- Balck, Hermann (1981). Ordnung im Chaos / Erinnerungen 1893 - 1948. Biblio, Osnabrück. ISBN 3-7648-1176-5.
External links
- Biography at the Bundesarchiv
- Additional information on General der Panzertruppe Hermann Balck appears at Mike Miller / Axis Biographical Research