Bio of Hauptwachtmeister Otto Bösel (1913-1975)

Full nama: Otto Bösel
Nickname: Otto
Date of Birth: 12 July 1913 at Eisleben, Sachsen Anhalt (German Empire)
Date of Death: 5 November 1975 at Wittenberg, Sachsen-Anhalt (West Germany)
NSDAP Number: unknown
SS Number: unknown
Academic Title: unknown
Family Member: unknown
Physical Feature: unknown

Beförderungen (Promotion):
02.09.1939 Gefreiter
02.07.1942 Unteroffizier
00.00.1943 Wachtmeister
01.06.1944 Oberwachtmeister
19.09.1944 Hauptwachtmeister

Karriere (Career):
00.00.1937 - 00.00.1938 Lehrgang in I.Abteilung / Flak-Regiment 43 at Wittenberg
02.09.1939 Served in 2.Batterie / I.Abteilung / Flak-Regiment 43
29.07.1944 Transferred to Flak-Kampftruppe 11700
19.09.1944 Served in 1.Batterie / Feld-Flakartillerie-Schule (Mitte) 16 at München-Freimann

Orden und Ehrenzeichen (Medals and Decorations):
17.06.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
19.09.1940 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Flakkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe
00.00.194_ Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber
29.04.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
00.00.1943 Ärmelband "Afrika"
11.06.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Wachtmeister and Geschützführer in 1.Batterie / I.Abteilung / Flak-Regiment 43 / 6.Flak-Division. The medal was awarded for distinguishing himself in the North Africa campaign, as detailed by the following excerpt from the ‘Wittenberger Tageblatt’ (dated 3 August 1944): “Wachtmeister Bösel has distinguished himself on all fronts in an exemplary way. During all his battles he demonstrated great readiness for duty, bravery and outstanding leadership abilities. He proved to be particularly successful in engaging enemy tanks and often brought about achievements of battle-deciding importance.”

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Considered "one of the best gunners in the battalion", he participated in Wolz's Flak Front, 27th May 1942. Said to have knocked out 20 of the 24 enemy tanks destroyed in that engagement! Evacuated from Africa due to wounds, he becoming gunnery instructor. Not awarded the Ritterkreuz until 11th June 1944 "after further enquires" on his actions under Wolz.

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-497-3505-25
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/B/BoeselO.htm
https://ar.pinterest.com/pin/280278776786081479/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/22154/B%C3%B6sel-Otto.htm