Walter Botsch

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.

Walter Botsch
Born	27 February 1897 Braunsbach
Died	7 January 1969 (aged 71) Schwäbisch Gmünd
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Army (Wehrmacht)
Rank	Generalleutnant
Unit	19th Army
Commands held	18th Volksgrenadier Division LIII. Armeekorps LVIII. Panzerkorps
Battles/wars	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.