Hans Boeckh-Behrens

Hans Karl August Boeckh-Behrens
Born	27 November 1898 Wernigerode
Died	13 February 1955 (aged 56) Woikowo Prisoner-of-war camp near Moscow
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	32. Infanterie-Division L. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Baltic Offensive (1944) Riga Offensive (1944) Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans Karl August Boeckh-Behrens (23 November 1898 – 13 February 1955) 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. Hans Boeckh-Behrens was captured by Soviet troops in May 1945 and died in captivity on 13 February 1955.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (11 May 1915)
  • 1st Class (19 April 1916)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (26 January 1935)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (18 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (1 October 1939)
• Eastern Front Medal (30 July 1942)
• German Cross in Gold on 30 January 1943 as Oberst im Generalstab in the AOK 16^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 December 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 32. Infanterie-Division^[2]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (6 November 1944)
• Ärmelband Kurland

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
6 November 1944 (addendum)	In Kurland hat sich die im Brennpunkt des feindlichen Großangriff stehende pommersche 32. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Behrens hervorragend geschlagen.[3]	In Courland, the in the focus of a major enemy attack standing Pomeranian 32nd Infantry Division, under the command of Lieutenant General Behrens, has fought magnificently.

References

Citations

1. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 48.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 116.
3. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 323.

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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht