Böhmke, Reinhold (Grenadier-Regiment 162)

Date of birth:: August 25th, 1911 (Stargard/Westprussia, Germany)
Date of death:: November 12th, 2001 (Oberboihingen/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Career:
October 1st, 1936 - September 30th, 1937: Wehrdienst 13. / Infanterie-Regiment 3, Deutsch-Eylau;
August 16th, 1939: 13. (IG) / Infanterie-Regiment 162;
April 27th, 1942: Reserve-Lazerett Apolda, Thüringen;
November 17th, 1942: Grenadier-Geschütz-Ersatz-Kompanie 61;
January 21st, 1943: 13. (IG) / Infanterie-Regiment 162.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: June 28th, 1940

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: July 8th, 1941

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1942

Nahkampfspange in Bronze

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1944

Panzervernichtungsabzeichen in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1944

Panzervernichtungsabzeichen in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1944

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberfeldwebel der Reserve (Warrant Officer of Reserves)
Unit:: Zugführer, 13. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 162, 61. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: April 6th, 1944

On the 15.01.1944 Böhmke mastered a critical situation through his own initiative during a Soviet combined arms attack south of Oranienbaum. The Soviets managed to occupy the hill in the rear of I./Grenadier-Regiment 162. At this time Oberfeldwebel Böhmke was serving as the forward observer of an infantry gun Zug, and in the absence of the Bataillon commander (who was fighting at the frontline) he decided to attack the much larger enemy force with a handful of men. He managed to capture the hill in close combat while eliminating several MG nests. In the end an entire Soviet battalion was shattered during the battle.

Böhmke would later be awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions on this day.

Recommended by the III. (germ.) Panzerkorps.

Sources

Photo 1: Willi Schumacher
Photo: Willi Schumacher collection
- BENDER, R.J. & BREYETTE T.,, Tank Killers.
- FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1992.
- Ritterkreuztraeger 1939 - 1945