 For this achievement, on 14 June 1940, Balthasar was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), becoming the second Luftwaffe fighter pilot after Werner Mölders, to be so decorated.With 23 aerial victories, Balthasar was the most successful German fighter pilot of the Battle of France.On 1 September 1940, Balthasar was appointed "Gruppenkommandeur" (group commander) of III.