Ritterkreuz Action of Hermann-Ernst Bolm

Hermann-Ernst Bolm (28 February 1919 - 20 October 1944) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 April 1944 as Hauptmann der Reserve and Führer II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 434 / 131.Infanterie-Division. The following newspaper article describes why Bolm was awarded the Ritterkreuz:

“The First Breakthrough to Kovel - Hauptmann Bolm Awarded the Ritterkreuz.

A Lower-Saxonian Infanterie-Division had been involved in weeks of heavy combat west of the city of Kovel, which had been encircled on all sides by the enemy. On 29 March 1944 a Regiment (reinforced by Panzers and Sturmgeschütze) of this Division commenced an attack.

Hauptmann Ernst Bolm, commander of the Regiment’s II. Bataillon, stormed at the head of his Grenadiers in the area north of the railway Ch.—K. He and his foremost Grenadiers succeeded in seizing a strongly garrisoned Bolshevik strongpoint following a brief but fierce battle. The Bolsheviks suffered heavy losses in this engagement; during which 7 guns and numerous other weapons fell into the hands of the victors.

The young Bataillon commander realized in this moment that the enemy in his sector had been shaken by the heavy casualties they had just sustained. Thus, he concluded that now was the time to strike in order to effect a breakthrough towards the East. Acting swiftly, he once again placed himself at the spearhead of the assault group. His encouragement and example here inspired his exhausted Grenadiers to once again press forwards. While the Panzers captured a hill west of the village of Cz., Hauptmann Bolm penetrated into the village itself with his now brought-up reserve Kompanie. The village was cleared of the enemy by nightfall following hard close combat.

After this he [Bolm] immediately dispatched reconnaissance elements into the wooded terrain east of Cz. The results of this reconnaissance were surprisingly favourable; the woods were only weakly occupied by the enemy. The Soviets had clearly not had enough time to reposition their forces in the wake of Cz.’s loss. No communications existed with the Regiment at this time; the young officer would have to act on his own initiative.

After a short conference with the Kompanie commander of the Panzers, it was resolved that the existing moment of opportunity had to be exploited. Hauptmann Bolm thus moved out before dawn on the following morning and was able to break through to Kovel in a rapid advance. The encirclement ring around the city was not broken just yet however, as the Red flood once again closed behind the Bataillon after it had entered Kovel proper. However the breakthrough of Bolm’s Bataillon and the Panzer-Kompanie brought about significant aid and moral relief for the hard-pressed defenders of Kovel.”

The village of Cz. referred to in the article was the village of Czerkasy, located along the Chelm—Kovel railway line. The Panzer-Kompanie that broke through to Kovel in conjunction with Bolm’s Bataillon was the 8./SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 “Wiking”, commanded by SS-Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck (he also received the Ritterkreuz).


Source :
https://www.generalassaultmilitaria.com/product/hermann-ernst-bolm-portrait/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/2452/Bolm-Hermann-Ernst.htm

Bio of Hauptmann Hermann-Ernst Bolm (1919-1944)

Hermann-Ernst Bolm

Date of Birth: 28.02.1919 - Magdeburg, Sachsen (Germany)
Date of Death: 20.10.1944 - Ebenroda, Ostpreussen (Germany)

Promotions:
06.01.1941 Leutnant der Reserve (with RDA from 01.11.1940)
17.10.1942 Oberleutnant der Reserve (with RDA from 01.11.1942)
29.02.1944 Hauptmann der Reserve (with RDA from 01.01.1944)
30.04.1944 Hauptmann (with RDA from 01.03.1944)

Career:
00.08.1938 3.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 17
01.04.1940 1.Kompanie (Schützen) / Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 17
17.04.1940 2.Kompanie (Schützen) / Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 17
20.08.1940 6.Kompanie (Schützen) / Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 17
05.10.1940 10.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 434
05.04.1941 11.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 434
09.06.1941 10.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 434
03.10.1941 11.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 434
00.00.1942 9.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 434
19.03.1942 10.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 434
00.04.1942 2.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 434
07.07.1942 Sicherungs-Bataillon Usocki
14.02.1943 9.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 434
24.08.1943 Stabsoffizier 131. Infanterie-Division
00.09.1943 Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 131
19.12.1943 Chef 5.Kompanie / Grenadier-Regiment 434
00.12.1943 Führer II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 434
12.08.1944 Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 434

Awards and Decorations:
25.11.1941 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
08.01.1942 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
00.00.194_ Nahkampfspange in Bronze
10.02.1944 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
04.04.1944 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht
20.04.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann der Reserve and Führer II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 434 / 131.Infanterie-Division. The following newspaper article describes why Bolm was awarded the Ritterkreuz: “The First Breakthrough to Kovel - Hauptmann Bolm Awarded the Knight’s Cross: A Lower-Saxonian Infanterie-Division had been involved in weeks of heavy combat west of the city of Kovel, which had been encircled on all sides by the enemy. On the 29.03.1944 a Regiment (reinforced by Panzers and Sturmgeschütze) of this Division commenced an attack. Hauptmann Ernst Bolm, commander of the Regiment’s II. Bataillon, stormed at the head of his Grenadiers in the area north of the railway Ch.—K. He and his foremost Grenadiers succeeded in seizing a strongly garrisoned Bolshevik strongpoint following a brief but fierce battle. The Bolsheviks suffered heavy losses in this engagement; during which 7 guns and numerous other weapons fell into the hands of the victors. The young Bataillon commander realized in this moment that the enemy in his sector had been shaken by the heavy casualties they had just sustained. Thus, he concluded that now was the time to strike in order to effect a breakthrough towards the East. Acting swiftly, he once again placed himself at the spearhead of the assault group. His encouragement and example here inspired his exhausted Grenadiers to once again press forwards. While the Panzers captured a hill west of the village of Cz., Hauptmann Bolm penetrated into the village itself with his now brought-up reserve Kompanie. The village was cleared of the enemy by nightfall following hard close combat. After this he [Bolm] immediately dispatched reconnaissance elements into the wooded terrain east of Cz. The results of this reconnaissance were surprisingly favourable; the woods were only weakly occupied by the enemy. The Soviets had clearly not had enough time to reposition their forces in the wake of Cz.’s loss. No communications existed with the Regiment at this time; the young officer would have to act on his own initiative. After a short conference with the Kompanie commander of the Panzers, it was resolved that the existing moment of opportunity had to be exploited. Hauptmann Bolm thus moved out before dawn on the following morning and was able to break through to Kovel in a rapid advance. The encirclement ring around the city was not broken just yet however, as the Red flood once again closed behind the Bataillon after it had entered Kovel proper. However the breakthrough of Bolm’s Bataillon and the Panzer-Kompanie brought about significant aid and moral relief for the hard-pressed defenders of Kovel.” The village of Cz. referred to in the article was the village of Czerkasy, located along the Chelm—Kovel railway line. The Panzer-Kompanie that broke through to Kovel in conjunction with Bolm’s Bataillon was the 8./SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 “Wiking”, commanded by SS-Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck (he also received the Knight’s Cross).

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Hermann-Ernst Bolm was born on February 28, 1919 in Magdeburg and, according to a report from August 1938, joined the 3rd company of the 17th Infantry Regiment. According to a report dated April 1, 1940, after taking part in the Polish campaign, Bolm switched to the 1st (sniper) company of the 17th Infantry Replacement Battalion. With the report dated April 17, 1940, he was in the 2nd (sniper) company of the battalions.

Without taking part in the western campaign, Bolm switched to the 6th company of his old regiment with a report from August 20, 1940, or to the 10th company of the 434th Infantry Regiment with a report from October 5, 1940.

On April 5th, 1941 he was transferred to the 11th company, only to briefly return to the 10th company on June 9th, 1941. With this he also took part in the eastern campaign, but switched back to the 11th company on October 3rd, 1941. Later he was transferred to the 9th company, from which he returned to the 10th company with a report dated March 19, 1942. In the next few weeks he was then transferred to the 2nd company, from there he was commanded to the Usocki security battalion, with a report dated July 7th, 1941, and after his return to the company, with a report dated February 14th, 1943, he was assigned to the 9th company.

With a report dated August 24, 1943, Bolm was assigned to the staff of the 131st Infantry Division and from there to Field Replacement Battalion 131, from where he transferred to the 5th Company of the regiment with a report dated December 19, 1943, and there too was appointed leader of the II. Battalion.

On April 1, 1944, the 131st Infantry Division attacked Cherkassy on the Luboml-Kovel railway line in order to free the trapped Kovel garrison. On April 4, 1944, the hard-fought division reached the edge of a forest about seven kilometers west of Kovel. Also in action in the north of Kowel, Bolm showed exceptional bravery, for which he was named in the Wehrmacht report on April 4, 1944. On April 27, 1944, the mission to relieve Kowel was successfully completed. Bolm received the Knight's Cross for his successful attack and defense measures on April 20, 1944, as a reserve captain and commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 434th Grenadier Regiment. Furthermore, on April 30, 1944, with effect from March 1, 1944, the transfer to the active officer corps took place.

With a report dated August 12, 1944, he switched to the staff of the 1st Battalion and was killed two months later, on October 20, 1944, as commander of the battalion near Ebenrode in East Prussia.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=91104
https://www.generalassaultmilitaria.com/product/hermann-ernst-bolm-portrait/
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Hermann-Ernst_Bolm
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/b.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/2452/Bolm-Hermann-Ernst.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20111228124514fw_/http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/B/Bo/Bolm-Hermann-Ernst.htm

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Wilhelm Eggemann

 

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Major Wilhelm Eggemann (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 94 / 32.Infanterie-Division), which was held on 20 April 1943 at Staraya Russa, Novgorod, Soviet Union. The one draping the medal on the right is Generalleutnant Wilhelm Wegener (Kommandeur 32. Infanterie-Division), while the one helping to drape it in the center is most likely Rittmeister Hans-Joachim von Koeckritz (Kommandeur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 32 / 32.Infanterie-Division). In this photo, Koekritz is seen wearing a schirmmütze (visor hat) with the totenkopf crest on the front. This is because he is a former member of the Reiter-Regiment 5, one of Germany's leading cavalry units with a long history, which members - or former members - proudly displays the skull symbol in their caps.

Eggemann’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows:

“During the great defensive battle in the time period 26.02.-18.03.1943 the 32. Infanterie-Division defended the area between Borossino and Lowat, with its frontline facing southwards. In this time Major Eggemann and his Bataillon (which was involved in all the major combat from the start and had by now become badly depleted) were deployed to a thick, coverless swampy area east of Koslowo. Following endless artillery fire of all kinds the enemy struck against the front of this Bataillon on the 15.03.1943 with the support of tanks.

On the morning of that day an enemy tank-supported penetration on the left wing of the Bataillon threatened to turn into a breakthrough. A Kompanie which had been temporarily attached to the Bataillon was supposed to withdraw to the positions of the heavy Pak in an orderly fashion. However it was instead threatening to fall into confusion, and had lost contact with its neighbours. The enemy sent in tanks and infantry through the extant frontline gap. An enemy breakthrough seemed inevitable. Such a move would seriously compromise the Regiment, which had by now used up its last reserves. It would probably also make it impossible for the Division to carry out its planned withdrawal to the Redja river during the following night.

In this situation Major Eggemann chose the reckless and yet only feasible option given the circumstances. Using the remnants of his staff and individual soldiers who happened to be in the vicinity, he formed the core of an offensive group. He personally dashed from squad to squad, directing the men of the left Kompanie and compelling them to hold out. He also gathered up individual squads in order to strengthen his own assault group. Now leading at the head of this group, he threw himself at the head of the enemy. He did this despite the exhausted state of his men and having personally been wounded twice in this fighting. With his machine-pistol in hand he was a model for his Grenadiers in the ensuing close combat. Along with his assault group he was able to eliminate the battalion sized enemy force that had penetrated the lines down to the last man. Two enemy tanks also ended up destroyed behind friendly lines. This restored the old combat situation, and the front could now be held until after nightfall, when the planned withdrawal was commenced.

This battlefield success was achieved with energy, boldness and fearless devotion to duty. Furthermore it was the prerequisite for the successful withdrawal of friendly lines to the Redja position. Eggemann’s Bataillon enabled the Regiment to carry out its withdrawal movement without leaving behind any heavy weapons, equipment or ammunition in spite of the extreme difficulties associated with the terrain.”

Source :
Leander Haslerud photo collection
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2013/07/album-foto-32-infanterie-division.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/3888/Eggemann-Wilhelm.htm
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/1939-eisernes-kreuz-forum/minty-ek1-wear-105499/

Bio of Oberst Oskar von Boddien (1900-1942)

Oskar von Boddien (19 April 1900 - 6 January 1942) enteredd the Oranienstein cadet institute and the main cadet institute Groß-Lichterfelde and at the age of 17 became a soldier in the Hessian Life Guard Infantry Regiment No. 115 in Darmstadt. A year later he was promoted to lieutenant. After the war he served for a long time in the 14th Reiter Regiment in Ludwigslust and was promoted to Rittmeister on December 21, 1930. On April 1, 1937, he was promoted to major in the staff of the 13th Cavalry Regiment. When the war broke out, he was in command of the 22nd Reconnaissance Division. Promoted to lieutenant colonel on September 1, 1940, he also led his department in the Eastern campaign. After the crossing over the Dnieper near Berislav, he and his department defended an important road junction well in front of their own lines for four days, which made it possible to advance quickly to the Crimean peninsula. For this he was awarded the oak leaves on October 2, 1941. During the Russian counter-offensive on the Crimean peninsula in January 1942, Lieutenant Colonel von Boddin was killed during the fighting in Evpatoria on January 6, 1942. Posthumously on January 8, 1942, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and he was also promoted to Colonel.

19.04.1900 geboren in Neuruppin/Mark Brandenburg
00.00.0000 Besuch der Kadettenanstalt Oranienstein und Haupt-Kadettenanstalt Groß-Lichterfelde
00.00.1917 Soldat im Hessischen Leibgarde-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 115 in Darmstadt
00.00.1918 Beförderung zum Leutnant
21.12.1930 Beförderung zum Rittmeister
01.04.1937 Beförderung zum Major im Stab des Kavallerie-Regiments 13 in Lüneburg
18.08.1939 Teile des Regiment werden zur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 22 - Boddien wird Kommandeur
01.09.1940 Beförderung zum Oberstleutnant
06.01.1942 gefallen in der Stadt Eupatoria
08.01.1942 Posthum Verleihung des 58. Eichenlaubs der Wehrmacht und Beförderung zum Oberst
09.01.1942 Beerdigung
26.01.1942 Trauerfeier mit von Manstein und Wolff

Medals and Decorations:
08.01.1942 Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz
06.10.1942 Militärorden Michael der Tapfere
02.10.1941 Ritterkreuz zum Eisernen Kreuz
30.08.1941 Anerkennungsurkunde
07.07.1941 Spange zum 1914 EK I
05.07.1941 Spange zum 1914 EK II
Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse 1914
Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1914
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer

Source :
http://www.historic.de/Militar/Personen/Boddien/boddien.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/B/BoddinOv-R.htm

U-Boat Ace Reinhard Suhren in Color

 

Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Suhren, commander of U-564, after returning from a patrol, 1942. Photo by Photographer Bonnemann.

 

Reinhard Johann Heinz Paul Anton Suhren (16 April 1916 - 25 August 1984) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and younger brother of Korvettenkapitän (Ing.) and Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipient Gerd Suhren.

Suhren was born in Langenschwalbach, the second of three children, and grew up in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich. He joined the navy in 1935 and began his U-boat career in March 1938. He spent a year as 1st watch officer on U-48 where he received the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross for his contribution in the sinking of 200,000 gross register tons (GRT) of merchant shipping. In April 1941 he took command of U-564. As a commander, he is credited with the sinking of 18 merchant vessels of 95,544 GRT, 1 warship of 900 long tons (910 tonnes) and damaged four merchant vessels of 28,907 GRT for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.
Suhren left the boat and became an instructor in October 1942. He then served in the 27th U-boat Flotilla along with Korvettenkapitän Erich Topp. During the last year of the war Fregattenkapitän Suhren was the Führer der Unterseeboote Norwegen (Leader of U-boats in Norwegian waters) and from September 1944 the Commander-in-Chief of U-boats of the North Sea. After the war he worked in the petroleum industry and died of stomach canceron 25 August 1984.


Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=405108927424604&set=gm.1632605800258170
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhard_Suhren?fbclid=IwAR34bkhXQwU0JKghcGT0XHtrHT8Po6MfGCCEW1U8rKbMgMi-UYLsrwKsRC0

Ritterkreuz award ceremony of Friedrich-Wilhelm Otte

Ritterkreuz award ceremony of Oberst Friedrich-Wilhelm Otte (Kommandeur Jäger-Regiment 207 / 97.Jäger-Division) which were held at Caucasus front on 13 November 1942. Awarding the medal is Generalmajor Ernst Rupp (Kommandeur 97. Jäger-Division).

Source :
ECPAD Archives (courtesy of Blanluet Christophe)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/152986901863424/?post_id=927678051060968