Bio of SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl-Heinz Boska (1920-2004)

Karl-Heinz Boska

Date of Birth: 18.10.1920 - Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany)
Date of death: 22.10.2004 - Raisdorf-Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany)
NSDAP Number :7.184.665
SS Number : 423.651

Promotions:
01.11.1940 SS-Sturmmann
01.09.1941 SS-Unterscharführer
00.04.1942 SS-Standartenoberjunker
21.06.1942 SS-Untersturmführer
09.11.1942 SS-Obersturmführer
01.09.1944 SS-Hauptsturmführer

Career:
01.09.1939 Melder in 1.Kompanie / SS-Kradschützen-Ersatz-Bataillon "Ellwangen"
00.06.1940 Melder in 3.Kompanie / SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung / SS-Verfügungstruppe
00.02.1941 Melder in 3.Kompanie / SS-Kradschützen-Bataillon / SS-Division "Reich" (motorisiert)
00.06.1941 Zugführer in 3.Kompanie / SS-Kradschützen-Bataillon / SS-Division "Reich" (mot.)
00.09.1941 - 00.04.1942 Officer training at SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
00.04.1942 II.Bataillon / SS-Infanterie-Regiment 4 "Langemarck" (mot.)
00.10.1942 Adjutant II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / SS-Division "Das Reich" (mot.)
00.11.1942 Adjutant II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"
00.10.1943 Chef 6.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"
00.07.1944 - 00.08.1944 Adjutant 7. Armee
00.04.1945 Führer II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"
00.05.1945 - 00.03.1948 Prisoner of war of the Allies

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.193_ Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen in Bronze
28.08.1941 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
21.02.1942 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
24.01.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
22.02.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
18.04.1943 Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
07.09.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber
16.12.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as SS-Obersturmführer and Adjutant II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / 2.SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"

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Karl Heinz Boska was born on 18 October 1920 in Kiel. He attended the elementary school in Kiel-Hassee and then in 1932 changed to upper II at the Royal University in Kiel. Then in 1937 he moved to the Napola Boska Plön, where he remained until the beginning of the war.

Boska volunteered for ths SS and after the Polish Campaign was posted to the 1st SS Motorcycle Reserve Battalion in September 1939. Then in June 1940 was posted to the 3rd Company, Reconnaissance Battalion, SS-VT (auxiliary) for the Battle of France.

In February 1941 he was now part of the newly formed Motorcycle Battalion, Das Reich for the invasion of the Balkans (Operation Marita).

In September 1941 he was selected to be an officer and sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Brunswick where he remained until April 1942.

After graduation he was posted to the SS Regiment Langemarck, as a platoon leader and remained with the Langemarck until October 1942, when he was posted to the new II.Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment Das Reich which was just being formed, as a Untersturmführer (Storm Leader/Second Lieutenant) and platoon leader in the Headquarters Company.

In October 1943 he was given command of the 6th Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, which in November 1943 was in the Schewtschenkiwka sector. Where he was assigned to defend the area of the 344th Panzer Grenadier Regiment against the expected Russian tank assault.

On the morning of 13 November near Bolschaja Grab, the Russian infantry mounted a large and dangerous surprise attack on the 2nd Company Headquarters. Russian troops managing to close to less than 200 meters before being detected. Obersturmführer Boska, rallied and led 5 of his panzers in a ferocious counterattack which over the period of a two-hour battle destroyed 12 Russian anti-tank guns, 2 field guns and killed 380 Russian troops earning him an immediate recommendation for the Knight's Cross by the Divisional commander, Walter Krüger.

On 16 December Boska was promoted to Obersturmführer (Senior Storm Leader/First Lieutenant) and Adjutant of the II.Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment and received the Knight's Cross.

In July 1944 Boska was transferred to the staff of the 7th Army, under Oberstgruppenführer, Paul Hausser, until September 1944 when he returned to the 6th Company which was involved in the heavy fighting in and around Vienna.
Post war

Boska was made a prisoner of war, by the British forces and was released in March 1948. Karl Heinz Boska died on 22 October 2004 in Raisdorf near Kiel.

Source :
Hill60 photo collection
https://www.dasreich.ca/froom.html
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Boska,_Karl-Heinz
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2456020#p2456020
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Karl-Heinz_Boska
https://reibert.info/media/karl-heinz-boska-jpg.356147/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28614/Boska-Karl-Heinz.htm

Ernst Barkmann, Friedrich Memmert, Karl-Heinz Boska, Gerd Hein and Hans-Joachim Heinrici

This picture was taken during a O.d.R. (Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger) Sektionstreffen in Rendsburg, year unknown (possibly early 2000's). From left to right: Ernst Barkman (25 August 1919 - 27 June 2009. Ritterkreuz on 27 August 1944 as SS-Unterscharführer and Panzer Kommandant in 4.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / 2.SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich”), Friedrich Memmert (5 February 1917 - 12 February 2003. Ritterkreuz on 9 June 1944 as Unteroffizier and Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 20 (motorisiert) / 20.Panzergrenadier-Division), Karl-Heinz Boska (18 October 1920 - 22 October 2004. Ritterkreuz on 16 December 1943 as SS-Obersturmführer and Adjutant II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / 2.SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"), Gerd Hein (9 July 1916 - 6 June 2008. Ritterkreuz on 3 September 1940 as Unteroffizier der Reserve and Zugführer in 10.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 209 / 58.Infanterie-Division, and Eichenlaub #120 on 6 September 1942 as Leutnant der Reserve and Führer 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 209 / 58.Infanterie-Division), and Hans-Joachim Heinrici (16 April 1918 - 8 October 2011. Ritterkreuz on 14 February 1945 as Hauptmann and Führer II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 431 / 131.Infanterie-Division).

Source :
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum

Ritterkreuz Action of Karl-Heinz Boska

Karl-Heinz Boska (18 October 1920 - 22 October 2004) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 16 December 1943 as SS-Obersturmführer and Adjutant II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / 2.SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich".

Boska’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows…

“SS-Obersturmführer Boska is an outstanding leader who has mastered several difficult situations while always leading his subordinated Panzers with great prudence.

On the 9 November 1943 he and his Zug received the mission of standing by in the Schewtschenkiwka area in order to defend against enemy armoured attacks in the sector of the Grenadier-Regiment 344.

At 05:00 on the 10 November 1943 Boska drove up to and beyond the frontline near Schewtschenkiwka his 5 operational Panzer IVs. He wished to orient his commanders as to the terrain and simultaneously reconnoiter opposite Bolschaja Grab.

After Boska had driven a few hundred metres beyond the frontline he spotted an enemy infantry attack being launched from Bolschaja Grab in the direction of the eastern part of Stepanowka. Although the Russian attacking spearheads were already 200 metres before friendly lines there was no indication that the friendly infantry had spotted the enemy.

Recognizing the danger, Boska made the independent decision to attack from the march into the enemy’s right flank and thereby unhinge the totally surprised enemy. Boska’s Zug went on to almost totally destroy the enemy force located on flat fields during the course of a battle that lasted over 2 hours. The enemy left behind 380 dead and numerous heavy weapons on the battlefield (see list). The prisoners captured here provided valuable statements for the leadership.

Utilizing this success, Boska then pursued the last fleeing hostile elements back to the edge of Bolschaja Grab. Here he entered into a major firefight with 7 enemy anti-tank guns that had been brought into position in the meantime. These were also destroyed with coordinated fire, and he then engaged the newly appearing infantry. 2 of the deployed anti-tank guns were captured and brought back. Boska then pulled back from the enemy, having lost none of his own Panzers!

During the night of the 9-10 November 1943 the Russians broke through the right wing of the 75. Infanterie-Division with a tank brigade, and by the morning of the next day they stood in Ssolimonki with 16 tanks and 2 infantry companies. This attack, in conjunction with the enemy regimental-sized attack that had been beaten back by Boska, was intended to lead to the encirclement of the 75. Infanterie-Division and create the necessary conditions for an advance against Bjela Zerkoff. But the situation was instead ultimately resolved in our favour thanks to the clear, swift and independent action by Boska, who also showed outstanding bravery during his attack. His intervention prevented a consequently unavoidable enemy thrust against Bjela Zerkoff. The broken-in enemy tanks and infantry were eventually destroyed by the handful of available reserves who were now free to act in this way thanks to Boska’s successful riposte.

Successes of Boska’s operation:

63 prisoners,
380 dead,
5 anti-tank guns (7.62 cm) destroyed,
2 anti-tank guns (7.62 cm) captured,
3 anti-tank rifles destroyed,
100 rifles destroyed.”

Submitted on 4 December 1943.
Preliminary document and decoration on 24 December 1943 to Panzer AOK 4.

Source :
Adolfo Diaz photo collection
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/227361481174468329/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28614/Boska-Karl-Heinz.htm

Three German Commanders in the Battle Against Allied Troops in St.-Lô

Three senior German commanders in the Battle against Allied troops in St.-Lô area, Normandy, 16 July 1944. From left to right: General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl (Kommandierender General II. Fallschirmkorps), SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Paul Hausser (Oberbefehlshaber 7. Armee), and Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf (Kommandeur 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division). Behind Schimpf is SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl-Heinz Boska (Adjutant Oberbefehlshaber 7. Armee). In this meeting Meindl told his commander, Hausser, that the German defense position at St.-Lô was untenable any longer due to the superiority of the Allied forces on land and in the air. The next day Hausser forwarded this message to his commander, Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe B). Unknowingly, on the same day Rommel was badly wounded by Allied air strikes and went to the intensive treatment at the hospital! This photo is most likely taken at Villebaudon which is the base of II. Fallschirmkorps.

General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl (Kommandierender General II. Fallschirmkorps), SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Paul Hausser (Oberbefehlshaber 7. Armee), and Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf (Kommandeur 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division).

SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Paul Hausser (Oberbefehlshaber 7. Armee) and Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf (Kommandeur 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division).

Source :
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/en/search/?query=121548872#
https://ww2images.blogspot.co.id/2018/03/three-german-commanders-in-st-lo-area.html