Date of birth:

February 27th, 1897 (Braunsbach/Württemberg, Germany)

Date of death:

January 7th, 1969 (Schwäbisch-Gmünd/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Promotions:
20.04.1915: Fahnenjunker
07.08.1915: Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
25.10.1915: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
05.09.1916: Fähnrich
05.01.1917: Leutnant - Patent 27.01.1917
31.07.1925: Oberleutnant - RDA 01.04.1925
01.06.1932: Hauptmann
01.03.1936: Major (50a)
20.03.1939: Oberstleutnant im Generalstab - RDA 01.04.1938 (1b)
01.04.1941: Oberst im Generalstab (3)
01.09.1943: Generalmajor (20)
01.09.1944: Generalleutnant (3)

20.04.1915: Fahnenjunker, Ersatz-Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment „König Wilhelm I." (6. Württembergisches) Nr. 124
00.07.1915: Fahnenjunker-Lehrgang, Döberitz
15.11.1915: Fahnenjunker, Infanterie-Regiment „König Wilhelm I." (6. Württembergisches) Nr. 124
09.08.1916: WIA in the Somme and evacuated to a Lazarett
00.09.1916: Ersatz-Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment „König Wilhelm I." (6. Württembergisches) Nr. 124
15.10.1916: Infanterie-Regiment „König Wilhelm I." (6. Württembergisches) Nr. 124
15.11.1916: Stab, 53. Infanterie-Brigade (3. Königlich Württembergische)
24.11.1916: severely WIA and evacuated to a Lazarett
05.01.1917: promoted to Leutnant - Patent 27.01.1917
28.02.1917: Ersatz-Bataillon
00.03.1917: Granatwerfer-Kurs in Münsingen
29.04.1917: Lt., Bataillonsadjutant, Infanterie-Regiment „König Wilhelm I." (6. Württembergisches) Nr. 124
23.03.1918: severely WIA in the Somme
24.06.1918: Ersatz-MG-Kompanie, XIII. Armeekorps
00.07.1918: Lt., Führer 3. MG-Kompanie, 6. Württembergisches Infanterie-Regiment "König Wilhelm I" Nr. 124
20.10.1918: Lt., Adjutant, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment „König Wilhelm I." (6. Württembergisches) Nr. 124
15.03.1919-29.09.1919: Lt., "Freiwilligen-Abteilung Haas"
00.00.1920: Lt., Reichswehr-Schützen-Regiment 26
00.00.1921: Lt., Kompanieoffizier, 13. (Württ.) Infanterie-Regiment
00.00.1923: Lt., Kompanieoffizier, 15. Kompanie, Ausbildungs-Bataillon, 13. (Württ.) Infanterie-Regiment, Gmünd
01.10.1924: Lt., 16. Kompanie, Ausbildungs-Bataillon, 13. (Württ.) Infanterie-Regiment, Gmünd
00.00.1926: Olt., Artillerie-Regiment 5
01.10.1926: Olt., Führergehilfenausbildung, Stab, 5. Division
01.10.1927: Olt., Führergehilfenausbildung, Stab, 7. Division
01.10.1928: Olt., 6. Eskadron, 4. (Preuß.) Reiter-Regiment, Potsdam
01.10.1929: Olt., MG-Offizier, Regimentsstab, 13. (Württ.) Infanterie-Regiment, Ludwigsburg
00.00.1933: Hptm., Regimentsadjutant, 13. (Württ.) Infanterie-Regiment, Ludwigsburg
01.08.1934: Hptm., Stab, 5. Division, Stuttgart
01.10.1934: Hptm., Stab, Befehlshaber Wehrkreis V
00.00.1935: Hptm., Generalstab, Generalkommando, V. Armee-Korps
06.10.1936: Maj., Kompaniechef, Infanterie-Regiment 35
10.09.1937: Maj., Wehrwirtschaftsstab, Wehrmachtsamt
00.02.1938: Maj., Rüstungswirtschaftliche Abteilung (W Rü), Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW)
09.09.1939: Oberstleutnant i.G., 1. Generalstabsoffizier, Ia, Generalstab, XXX. Armee-Korps
25.10.1940-31.05.1943: Oberstleutnant i.G., Chef des Generalstabes, XXX. Armee-Korps
01.06.1943: Oberst i.G., Führerreserve
20.06.1943: Oberst i.G., Chef des Generalstabes, Armeegruppe "Felber"
26.08.1943-31.12.1944: Oberst i.G., Chef des Generalstabes, XIX. Armee-Korps, France
01.01.1945: Generalleutnant, Führerreserve, Heeresgruppe D
26.01.1945: Generalleutnant, Divisionskommandeur, Heeresgruppe G
05.02.1945-05.03.1945: Generalleutnant, Kommandeur, 18. Volksgrenadier-Division
06.03.1945-23.03.1945: Generalleutnant, Kommandierender General, LIII. Armee-Korps
24.03.1945: Generalleutnant, Kommandierender General, LVIII. Panzer-Korps
16.04.1945: US POW
00.11.1947: released

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

August 10th, 1916

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

November 16th, 1917

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

July 6th, 1918

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

August 8th, 1918

WIA 09.08.1916 + 24.11.1916 + 23.03.1918

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

January 21st, 1935

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1939

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 20th, 1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on August 10th, 1916.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 19th, 1940

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on July 6th, 1918.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst im Generalstab (Colonel to the General Staff)

Unit:

Ia, Chef des Generalstabes, Stab, XXX. Armeekorps

Awarded on:

May 8th, 1942

Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 1362

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 30th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst im Generalstab (Colonel to the General Staff)

Unit:

Ia, Stab, XXX. Armee-Korps, Heer

Awarded on:

June 22nd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Kommandierender General, LIII. Armee-Korps

Awarded on:

May 8th, 1945

Botsch’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Generalleutnant Botsch succeeded in leading the encircled Kampfgruppe of the LIII. A.K. in a breakthrough to the eastern Rhine bank through a combination of personal bravery, prudent leadership and stern control over his unit’s cohesion. On the 25.-26.03.1945 Generalleutnant Botsch managed to prevent a breakthrough by overwhelming enemy tank forces in the Siegburg—Hennef sector by providing a brave personal example and ruthlessly employing all available forces (in particular the various splinter groups). He also ultimately succeeded in restoring the previously lost contact with the left neighbour.

He is a decisive, energetic and brave General who always provides an ideal example for his men. I therefore wish to recommend him for the award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

Unofficial award.
Walter Botsch was recommended for the Ritterkreuz (Eisernes Kreuzes), which recommendation was entered with the Heerespersonalamt (HPA) on October 27th, 1944. This recommendation was forwarded for approval on November 3rd, 1944 but apparently denied. A second nomination entered the HPA on April 5th, 1945. No formal approval can be found. Probably this was kept on halt beceause Botsch was reported missing in action on April 16th, 1945. The recommendation was entered in the HPA files with number 5082. According to the Ordensgemeinschaft Deutschen Ritterkreuzträger the Ritterkreuz was awarded to him unde rthe so-called "Dönitz Erlass". According to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt), there is no formal confirmation of this. Up till now, no formal confirmation of the awarding has been found.

• Photo 1:
• Photo 3:
• - FEDERL, CH., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, 2000.
  - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1992.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Axis History Biographical Research via Axis History Forum
  - Generalleutnant Walter Botsch - Lexikon der Wehrmacht