He had always been able to turn back Soviet attacks and, together with other Kampfgruppen, had also been able to conduct immediate counterattacks to throw the enemy off balance. *** In the winter of 1944/1945, Baunach and his battalion fought with the regiment in the center portion of the division’s frontage in the series of battles for the Kurland Pocket. They fought against numbers they had never encountered before, not outside of Moscow, Rshew or Vitebsk. Constantly supported by “Stalin Organs”, heavy artillery and the hated Sturmovik close-air-support aircraft, magnificently equipped and motivated elite Soviet regiments attacked the positions of the battalion.

However, the greatest and certainly unique privilege in German military history was withdrawal from front-line combat service for an entire year, a benefit that was introduced across-the-board in November 1944. Regardless of rank, it was directed that the soldier had to report to branch schools, higher headquarters or the Führer-Begleit-Brigade—often against the will of the recipient. Only a few especially stubborn or valuable soldiers succeeded on their own initiative or with the assistance of persuasive superiors in remaining with the forces in the field.

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