Captain Abraham J. Baum led a task force in an effort to liberate the POW's held at Oflag XIII-B near Hammelburg, Germany. The camp was taken by the Americans on March 27, 1945, but the liberators did not have the capacity to take all 1500 POWs with them and were forced to leave those requiring medical attention behind until reinforcements could come.
After several hours of dodging German troops, "Task Force Baum" was surrounded at a nearby farm. Captain Baum, wounded in the leg, was captured the following evening and sent to Oflag XIII-B at Hammelburg. The 14th Armored Division liberated the camp on April 6th, and Captain Baum was returned to the 4th Armored Division soon after. He was promoted to Major, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership against the odds during the Hammelburg Raid.
Photo: Courtesy Donald S. Frederick
Publisher: Donald S. Frederick, used with permission.
Dates: 1941–1945
