Walter Botsch | |
---|---|
Born | February 27, 1897 |
Died | 7 January 1969 | (aged 71)
Place of birth | Braunsbach |
Place of death | Schwäbisch Gmünd |
Allegiance |
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Service/branch | Heer |
Years of service | 1915–1945 |
Rank | Generalleutnant |
Unit |
XXX. Armeekorps 19. Armee |
Commands held |
18. Volksgrenadier-Division LIII. Armeekorps LVIII. Panzerkorps |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Walter Botsch (27 February 1897 – 7 January 1969) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Awards and decorations[]
- Iron Cross (1914)
- 2nd Class (10 August 1916)
- 1st Class (6 July 1918)
- Wound Badge (1914)
- in Black (?)
- in Silver (8 August 1918)
- Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (21 January 1935)
- Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar (2 October 1939)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (20 April 1940)
- 1st Class (19 June 1940)
- Eastern Front Medal (30 July 1942)
- Crimea Shield (9 September 1942)
- Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class (8 May 1942)
- German Cross in Gold on 22 June 1942 as Oberst im Generalstab in the XXX. Armeekorps[1]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 May 1945 as Generalleutnant and acting leader of the LVIII. Panzerkorps[2][Note 1][Note 2]
Notes[]
- ↑ According to Scherzer as commanding general of the LIII. Armeekorps.[3]
- ↑ Walter Botsch's nomination by the troop was already received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 27 October 1944, forwarded for approval on 3 November 1944 and apparently deferred. The file card notes in the field for the presentation: "see folder for further leadership reports". A second nomination by the troop, most likely related to a different act of bravery or leadership skills, according to the file card was received by the HPA on 5 April 1945. The book of "awarded Knight Crosses" states "deferred" because Botsch was considered missing in action on 16 April 1945. A nomination of the HPA with number 5082 was created. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel.[3]
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall (in German). ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links[]
- Walter Botsch @ Axis Biographical Research
- Lexikon der Wehrmacht
- Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
- World War 2 Awards.com
The original article can be found at Walter Botsch and the edit history here.