Major Udo Balzer

Discussions on the personalities of the Wehrmacht and of the organizations not covered in the other sections. Hosted by askropp and Frech.
Post Reply
User avatar
tom_deba
Member
Posts: 1165
Joined: 07 Jul 2004, 16:43
Location: Poland

Major Udo Balzer

#1

Post by tom_deba » 21 Sep 2004, 18:45

Could someone help me by giving me additional information about Major Udo Balzer, who had been awarded Ritterkreuz (9.04.44), as well as EK I and EK II. He was born 19.10.1906 in Tilsit. In 1944 he had been nominated commander of Fuesilier Bataillon "Deba" ("Demba"). Balzer died near Tarnopol 14.04.1944. That is all I know about his life and military career.
I had visited my town in 1944 and I would like to get to know more about him. I think it is "forgotten"
Ritterkreuzträger.
/tom/

Denis
Member
Posts: 1088
Joined: 27 Nov 2002, 17:51
Location: Paris, France

#2

Post by Denis » 22 Sep 2004, 08:39

Hello

Here is information about him that you don't mention (I don't know if you know them) :

Last rank : Oberstleutnant
Last unit : Füs. Btl. "Deba" (Festung Tarnopol)
EK1 : 16/10/41
RK : 2960th awarded for the whole WSS-WH

Balzer is not a forgotten RKT since he is listed in both reference works (i.e. WP Fellgiebel's book and Biblio Verlag's volume covering RKT from Infantry).
If you want, I can have a look in this latter book this evening to see if more details are provided about his military career as well as his promotions dates.
I don't have any photo for him, if you can provide one, it would be appreciated.
Regards
Denis


User avatar
tom_deba
Member
Posts: 1165
Joined: 07 Jul 2004, 16:43
Location: Poland

#3

Post by tom_deba » 22 Sep 2004, 13:51

It would be great if you could have a look in the book you mentioned. Any details on Balzer are appreciated!

/tom/

Denis
Member
Posts: 1088
Joined: 27 Nov 2002, 17:51
Location: Paris, France

#4

Post by Denis » 23 Sep 2004, 14:15

Here we go (hope you read German)

Quoted from Biblio Verlag "Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945", Teill III : Infanterie A-Be

You will note that they mention Balzer's unit as Demba instead of Deba.

Info about the RK bestowal :

Am 10/03/44 wurde Tarnopol zum "Festen Platz" erklärt. Es galt, den Nordflügel der Heeresgruppe Süd vor der Zerschlagung zu bewahren und durch derartige Plätze Zeit zum Aufbau einer neuen Abwehrfront zu gewinnen. Major Balzer hatte sich an der Spitze seines Bataillons durch großen Schneid und vorbildliche Tapferkeit besonders ausgezeichnet. Besonders entscheidend war die Vernichtung einer feindlichen Kampfgruppe, die südlich umfassend Tarnopol von Westen angreifen wollte. Es handelte sich dabei um 2 Bataillone des Schützen-Regiments 1130 (336. Schützen-Div.), die im Wald von Czarny Las, 3km von Zagrobela, vom Füsilier-Bataillon Demba zum größten Teil vernichtet wurden. Das Panzer-AOK 4 schlug daraufhin die Nennung im Wehrmachtbericht vor. Udo Balzer fiel, bevor der "Feste Platz" Tarnopol mit seiner geringen Besatzung unterging.

Assignements :
08/04/29-16/03/36 : in der Landespolizei
01/04/36 : mit wirkung vom 16/03/36 als Oberleutnant ins Heer (IR 30) überführt
01/10/38 : Chef 1./Ergängzungs-Bataillon /Infanterie Regiment 30 Görlitz
31/08/39 : im Infanterie Regiment 472
15/01/43 : Grenadier Regiment 461
05/07/43 : an der Feld-Unteroffizierschule der Infanterie / Lehrgruppe I. Kommandeur Füsilier Bataillon Demba, zuletzt Ia beim Kommandanten des Festen Platzes Tarnopol
15/03/44 : Nennung im Wehrmachtbericht : "Bei den Kämpfen im Raum von Tarnopol haben sich ein Füsilierbataillon unter Major Balzer... besonders hervorgetan"

Orders :
EK2 : 21/06/40
EK1 : 16/10/41

Promotions :
18/10/35 : Leutnant der Landespolizei
20/04/36 : Oberleutnant mit Wirkung von 01/04/36 / Rangdientsalter (RDA) als Leutnant 01/08/33, RDA als Oberleutnant 01/10/35
01/06/39 : Hauptmann (RDA vom 01/05/40)
16/10/42 : Major mit Wirkung vom 01/11/42 und RDA vom 01/11/42
15/08/44 : Oberstleutnant mit Wirkung vom 01/04/44

Here is what I have
Hope this helps
Regards
Denis

User avatar
tom_deba
Member
Posts: 1165
Joined: 07 Jul 2004, 16:43
Location: Poland

#5

Post by tom_deba » 24 Sep 2004, 00:03

Thank you very much Denis for a little reaearch conducted for me!!!
Is a picture of Major Balzer available in the books?

/tom/

User avatar
Bernd R
Member
Posts: 4637
Joined: 01 Feb 2006, 16:12
Location: Bavaria, Germany

#6

Post by Bernd R » 10 Mar 2007, 11:39

Tom,
a photo, showing Balzer in police uniform is provided in this short bio :
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.d ... er-Udo.htm

regards, Bernd

User avatar
AlifRafikKhan
Member
Posts: 8002
Joined: 15 Sep 2007, 20:02
Location: Sukabumi, Indonesia
Contact:

Re: Major Udo Balzer

#7

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 07 Nov 2014, 11:26

Does someone know what is the higher headquarters assignment for Füsilier-Bataillon Demba/Deba? was it part of a division/korps?

User avatar
AlifRafikKhan
Member
Posts: 8002
Joined: 15 Sep 2007, 20:02
Location: Sukabumi, Indonesia
Contact:

Re: Major Udo Balzer

#8

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 07 Nov 2014, 12:14

Please correct me if I'm wrong, is this the higher headquarters assignment for Füsilier-Bataillon "Demba" (Deba)? Kommandant Fester Platz Tarnopol / XXXXVIII.Panzerkorps / 4.Panzerarmee / Heeresgruppe Nordukraine

Post Reply

Return to “The Dieter Zinke Axis Biographical Research Section”