Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 14. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 397, 218. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 11th, 1943

The following press excerpt describes why Böwe was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“At the start of November 1943, in the area west of Newel, Hauptmann der Reserve Böwe and his Pak group destroyed 17 out of 20 broken-in Soviet tanks (of which he personally destroyed 5). He and his squad then used high explosive rounds and a machine-gun to eliminate the escorting enemy infantry, which had approached to within 100 metres of his cannon. By doing this Hauptmann Böwe prevented an enemy breakthrough and laid the groundwork for a successful defensive battle.”