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| Born: Oberwosheim bei Bruchsal, Baden. Ultimate rank: Oberstleutnant Last service position: Commander of I Battalion, 104th Rifle Regiment of the Africa Corps. Knight's Cross on July 9, 1941 while commander of I Battalion, 104th Rifle Regiment with the rank of Hauptmann. Died on December 22, 1942 in Toronto, Canada while a prisoner of war. |  |
Rommel Congratulating Bach and His Men at Halfaya Pass
Bach's face and mustache are visible behind Rommel's right side and Bach's "Spotter" ADJ points...
Wilhelm Bach signed up as a volunteer at the recruiting depot of the 1st Baden Lifeguards Grenadier Regiment No. 109 on August 8, 1914. He went to the front with the 109th Reserve Infantry Regiment on December 16, 1914. On August 7, 1915 Bach was assigned to Sennelager for training as a reserve officer. In the autumn of 1916 he returned to action on the Western Front as a Leutnant. On October 21 of that year he was taken prisoner by the British.
Following his return from prisoner of war camp on November 7, 1919, Bach became a pastor. As a Leutnant of the Reserve, Bach took part in his first reserve exercise with 2nd Company, 14th Infantry Regiment at Konstanz on July 2, 1936. Bach took part in the campaign against France with the "Sea Hares", as this regiment was called. Bach was subsequently transferred to the 104th Rifle Regiment, where he commanded a company in I Battalion.
Sent to Africa, during the Battle of Tobruk in April-May 1941 Bach' assumed command of I Battalion, 104th Rifle Regiment. Wilhelm Bach was to become known as the "Pastor in Purgatory" of the Halfaya Pass as he was an ordained Lutheran pastor or "devil dodger," as the German troops often called him. On June 14, 1941 Bach ordered an offensive patrol. The next day he attacked and took the Halfaya Pass. The British attacked the pass three times as part of their "Battleaxe" summer offensive, but Bach and his men refused to budge. Bach's personal bravery, his successful counterattacks and the decision to hold the Halfaya Pass contrary to an order from the division, won him the Knight's Cross.
In November 1941 he and his battalion were left alone in the pass. After using up the last of their ammunition, Bach and his unit were forced to surrender. Hauptman (Captain) but promoted to Major Bach thus joined Generals Schmitt and von Ravenstein in a prisoner of war camp. There is considerable controversy as to the reasons given for Bach's death in a POW camp in Canada. This is another story.
Halfaya Pass
Soon a Web Page about this and other units involved at this important location.
Bibliography
Knights Cross Holders of the AFRIKAKORPS by Franz Kurowski, Schiffer
François de Lannoy also has a list of the NA Knights Cross winners in his book AFRIKAKORPS from Heimdal
Walther-Peer Fellgiebel (2000), Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5
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