On 26 May 1943, Batz was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 52. He succeeded Leutnant Josef Zwernemann who temporarily led the Staffel after its former commander, Leutnant Helmut Haberda had been killed in action on 8 May. On 3 July, Batz was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (). By end of October, Batz was credited with 36 aerial victories, making him the fifth leading active fighter pilot of II. Gruppe. The Gruppe had moved to Kherson on 30 October and then transferred to Baherove on the Crimean peninsula on 2 November where it was based until 19 March 1944. By end of November, Batz had increased his number of aerial victories to 50. In December, he claimed 25 further aerial victories, raising his total to 75 on 7 December. This included three "ace-in-a-day" achievements on 1, 2 and 5 December. On 7 December, Batz attacked small vessels off the coast of Eltigen (Heroyevskoe), part of Kerch. During the strafing attack, his Bf 109 was hit by anti-aircraft fire resulting in a forced landing. Batz sustained injuries to his shoulder and was sent on home leave. His home leave and convalescence ended in February 1944. On 28 January 1944, Batz received the German Cross in Gold ().
