Karl Böttcher

Karl Böttcher
Born	25 October 1889 Thorn
Died	21 October 1973 (aged 83) Bad Wimpfen
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1909–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	21. Panzer-Division 345. Infanterie-Division 326. Infanterie-Division 347. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Annexation of Memel Battle of France North African Campaign
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl Böttcher (25 October 1889 – 21 October 1973) was a German general who commanded several divisions 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.

Career

Böttcher served in the Deutsches Afrikakorps under Erwin Rommel. Rommel innovated by creating an independent command for his artillery, allowing them to be used in a concentrated manner. He placed Böttcher in command. As such it became a very effective means for adding punch to the Afrika Korps' attack. Later with the death of von Bismark, Böttcher was made commander of the 21st Panzer Division. Karl Böttcher was captured by the Western Allies in 1945 and was held until 1947.

Böttcher and Rommel confer at Böttcher's promotion.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (23 November 1914)
  • 1st Class (27 July 1916)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (1 January 1935)
• Memel Medal (10 December 1939)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (5 June 1940)
  • 1st Class (15 November 1940)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 December 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of 21. Panzer-Division^[1][2]
• Italian Military Order of Savoy (14 January 1942)
• Armband Afrika (19 November 1943)

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 138.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 231.

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.
• 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.

External links

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