Walter Botsch - Wikiwand

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.

Born27 February 1897

Braunsbach, German Empire

Died7 January 1969 (aged 71)

Schwäbisch Gmünd, West Germany

Allegiance

Nazi Germany

BranchArmy (Wehrmacht)

Quick facts Born, Died ...

Walter Botsch
Born	27 February 1897 Braunsbach, German Empire
Died	7 January 1969(1969-01-07) (aged 71) Schwäbisch Gmünd, West Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch	Army (Wehrmacht)
Rank	Generalleutnant
Unit	19th Army
Commands	18th Volksgrenadier Division LIII. Armeekorps LVIII. Panzerkorps
Conflicts	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Awards

Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class & 1st Class ^[1]
Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (21 January 1935)^[1]
Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (20 April 1940) & 1st Class (19 June 1940)^[1]
German Cross in Gold on 22 June 1942 as Oberst im Generalstab in the XXX. Armeekorps^[2]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 May 1945 as Generalleutnant and acting leader of the LVIII. Panzerkorps^[3]^{[Note 1]}^{[Note 2]}

Notes

[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

Citations

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

Bibliography

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.