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Albert BachAustrian soldier and skier
Date of Birth: 29.11.1910
Country:  Austria |
Content:
Biography of Albert Bach
Albert Bach was an Austrian military officer and skier. He led the national Olympic military patrol team, which finished 4th in the 1936 Winter Olympics. Bach was born in Treffen, in a farmer's family. After completing high school in Villach, he joined the Austrian army. On October 26, 1931, Albert joined the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP). On September 30, 1932, Bach attended officer courses in Enns and later at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. During the Austrian Civil War, Bach proved himself to be a talented military officer and was even awarded a Bronze Star.
World War II
On March 13, 1938, Bach was accepted into the German Wehrmacht and quickly rose to the rank of Oberleutnant, leading a regiment. In early 1939, Bach was scheduled to attend advanced officer training courses, but the start of World War II temporarily put his studies on hold. During the invasion of Poland, Bach served as an officer in the artillery technical service. In January 1940, he was transferred to a mountain division and finally had the opportunity to attend the planned courses. For his bravery in the Battles of Narvik, Bach was awarded the Iron Cross of both classes. From autumn 1940 to 1941, Bach, now a Hauptmann, continued his training courses. He was then sent to the Balkans to prepare troops for the Battle of Crete, under the command of General Field Marshal Wilhelm List. After the Balkans, Bach was sent to the Soviet Union as a staff officer. Until August 1942, he successfully held his positions and then participated in the Demyansk Operation after another promotion.
Later Years
In May 1943, Bach was promoted to Oberstleutnant and received the Golden German Cross for his military accomplishments. In 1943, he participated in several battles on the northeastern front of the USSR. However, as the front line shifted, Bach found himself defending Riga and Courland a year later. On May 9, 1945, Albert was arrested by representatives of the Soviet Army, shortly after being promoted to Oberst and commanding one of the armies. In late July 1948, Bach was released and worked for a while in his relative's firm in Sankt Johann im Pongau. On July 26, 1956, he returned to the Austrian army and served in the organizational unit of the Federal Ministry of Defense as an Oberstleutnant. On May 1, 1958, Bach led General Erwin Fussenegger's unit and was promoted to Colonel. On July 1, 1961, he became the head of a new academy for training senior officers in Vienna. On July 15, 1963, he was appointed commander of one of the divisions, and on January 1, 1964, he was promoted to Major General. Finally, on January 1, 1969, Bach became a Lieutenant General. However, he did not agree with the 1970 reform of the federal army, stating that the lack of confidence in the army by ordinary Austrians stemmed from their insufficient knowledge of military needs. In 1972, Bach requested retirement, and on January 1, 1973, he was granted a pension. Albert Bach passed away on July 22, 1973, in Graz.
