Karl Böttcher
| Karl Böttcher | |
|---|---|
| Born |
25 October 1889 Thorn |
| Died |
21 October 1973 (aged 83) Bad Wimpfen |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918).svg.png){kind=small} Weimar Republic (to 1933).svg.png){kind=small} 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 |
|
| 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.
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
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
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Oberstleutnant Gustav-Georg Knabe |
Commander of 21st Panzer Division 1 December 1941 – 11 February 1942 |
Succeeded by Generalmajor Georg von Bismarck |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|