Hellmuth Böhlke

Otto Hellmuth Böhlke
Born	7 February 1893 Lubahn, Province of West Prussia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire now Lubań, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
Died	8 April 1956 (aged 63) Bad Mergentheim, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1920)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–20 1935–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	334. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War II Annexation of Austria Invasion of Poland Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Italian Campaign Gothic Line Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Police officer

Otto Hellmuth Böhlke (7 February 1893 – 8 April 1956) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 334. Infanterie-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Hellmuth Böhlke was captured by British troops in April 1945 and held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (12 October 1915)^[1]
  • 1st Class (20 July 1916)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (10 December 1934)
• Anschluss Medal
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (19 September 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (9 November 1939)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal (28 July 1942)
• German Cross in Gold on 27 October 1941 as Oberst in Infanterie-Regiment 430^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 24 September 1942 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 430^[3]
  • 716th Oak Leaves on 25 January 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of 334. Infanterie-Division^[4]
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (29 June 1944 and 24 September 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
29 June 1944	Bei den schweren Abwehrkämpfen in diesem Abschnitt haben sich die 1. Fallschirmjägerdivision unter Generalleutnant Heidrich und die 334. Infanteriedivision unter Generalmajor Böhlke durch besondere Tapferkeit und Standhaftigkeit ausgezeichnet.[5]	In the heavy defensive battles in this sector have the 1st Parachute Division under Lieutenant-General Heidrich and the 334th Infantry Division under Major General Böhlke distinguished themselves by showing bravery and steadfastness.
24 September 1944	Bei den schweren Kämpfen nördlich Florenz hat sich die aus Soldaten aller Gaue des Reiches zusammengesetzte 334. Infanteriedivision in Abwehr und Gegenangriff unter Führung von von Generalleutnant Böhlke hervorragend bewährt.[6]	In the heavy fighting north of Florence, has the 334 Infantry Division, composed of soldiers from all provinces of the empire, under the leadership of Lieutenant General Bohlke proved to be excellent in defense and counter-attack.

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1997, p. 59.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 49.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 117.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 80.
5. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 142.
6. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 258.

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.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
• 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
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• specialcamp11
• Hellmuth Böhlke @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)