Wikipedia

Walter Botsch

Walter Hugo Botsch (27 February 1897 – 7 January 1969) was a German general during World War II who commanded the 19th Army. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Walter Botsch
Born27 February 1897
Braunsbach, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire
Died7 January 1969(1969-01-07) (aged 71)
Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Allegiance German Empire
Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany
Branch
 Imperial German Army
Freikorps
 Reichsheer
 German Army
Service years
1915–1945
Rank
Generalleutnant
UnitXXX. Armeekorps
19th Army
Commands18th Volksgrenadier Division
LIII. Armeekorps
LVIII. Panzerkorps
Conflicts
World War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations∞ 1926 Hertha Lang; 3 sons

Life

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Wehrmacht

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When the Reichswehr was gradually expanded into the Wehrmacht starting 1 October 1934, he became a staff officer for Military District V (Wehrkreis V). Following the public unveiling of the staff structure in the spring of 1935, he served on the General Staff of the V Army Corps headquarters. On 6 October 1936, he assumed a troop command as a company commander in Infantry Regiment 35. From mid-September 1937, he served on the Defense Economy Staff within the Wehrmacht Office. After the outbreak of World War II, he was assigned as the First General Staff Officer and Chief of Operations (Ia) of the XXX. Army Corps starting 9 September 1939, and rose to become its Chief of General Staff on 25 November 1940. Upon the formation of the 19th Army in France in late August 1943, Botsch served as its Chief of General Staff—until he was relieved of the post on 1 January 1945. He was briefly placed in the Führerreserve (officer reserve pool) before commanding the 18th Volksgrenadier Division from early February to early March 1945. In the final days of the war in March 1945, he was briefly entrusted with the command of the LIII. Army Corps. At the end of March, he was briefly delegated with the leadership of the LVIII. Panzer Corps. Botsch was held in US prisoner-of-war custody from 16 April 1945 until November 1947.

Promotions

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  • 20 April 1915 Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
  • 7 August 1915 Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter (Officer Candidate with Lance Corporal rank)
  • 24 October 1915 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
  • 5 September 1916 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
  • 5 January 1917 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) with Patent from 27 January 1917
    • 1 July 1922 received Reichswehr Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 May 1916 (5)
  • 31 July 1925 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) with effect and RDA from 1 April 1925 (391)
  • 6 June 1932 Hauptmann (Captain) with effect and RDA from 1 June 1932 (5)
  • 20 April 1936 Major with effect and RDA from 1 April 1936 (68)
    • 2 August 1936 received new and improved RDA from 1 March 1936 (50a)
  • 20 March 1939 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with effect from 1 April 1939 and RDA from 1 April 1938 (1b)
  • 15 March 1941 Oberst (Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 April 1941 (3)
  • 8 September 1943 Generalmajor (Major General) with effect and RDA from 1 September 1943 (20)
  • 20 September 1944 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) with effect and RDA from 1 September 1944 (3)

Awards and decorations

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Sources

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Notes

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  1. ↑ According to Scherzer as commanding general of the LIII. Armeekorps.[4]
  2. ↑ Walter Botsch's nomination by the troop was 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 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.[4]

References

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Citations

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  1. 1 2 3 Thomas & Wegmann 1992, p. 327.
  2. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 54.
  3. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 141, 487.
  4. 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 122.

Bibliography

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  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 – The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941–1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1992). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 2: Bi–Bo [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 2: Bi–Bo] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1734-3.
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