Oskar von Boddien

Oskar von Boddien
Von Boddien's Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Bundeswehr Military History Museum, Dresden
Born	19 April 1900 Neuruppin
Died	Yevpatoria, Ukraine
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	?–1942
Rank	Oberst (Posthumously)
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of the Netherlands Operation Barbarossa Siege of Sevastopol (1941–1942)
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Oskar von Boddien (19 April 1900 – 6 January 1942) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the Aufklärungs-Abteilung 22 (22nd Reconnaissance Battalion) of the 22nd Infantry Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Oskar von Boddien was killed 6 January 1942 near Yevpatoria, Ukraine. He was posthumously promoted to Oberst and was awarded Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross.

Oberst (Colonel) Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller, commander of Infanterie-Regiment 105 (105th Infantry Regiment) of the 72nd Infantry Division and charged by the AOK 11 with the leadership of the battles for Yevpatoria, on 6 January 1942 ordered the Aufklärungs-Abteilung 22 to attack the harbor area and conquer the city. Von Boddien together with the 1st Squadron under Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) von Frankenberg commence the attack. Von Boddien was mortally hit by machine gun fire and von Frankenberg was wounded.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (5 July 1941)
  • 1st Class (7 July 1941)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 2 October 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 22
  • 58th Oak Leaves on 8 January 1942 (posthumously) as Oberstleutnant and commander of Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 22
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 12 January 1942

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Monday, 12 January 1942	Bei dem im Wehrmachtbericht vom 7. Januar gemeldeten sowjetischen Landungsunternehmen in Jewpatoria auf der Krim ließ der Gegner in zähen Häuser- und Straßenkämpfen 600 tote Soldaten und 1300 Partisanen auf dem Kampffeld. 203 Gefangene fielen in unsere Hand. Dieser Erfolg ist in besonderem Maße dem entschlossenen Zupacken des Oberstleutnants von Boddien zuzuschreiben, der als Kommandeur der Aufklärungsabteilung einer Infanteriedivision in diesem Kampf gefallen ist. Der Führer und Oberste Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht hat diesem tapferen Offizier nachträglich das Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes verliehen.	In the Armed Forces report of 7 January announced Soviet landing operations at Yevpatoria in the Crimea, the opponents lost and left behind in fierce house and street fighting, 600 dead soldiers and 1,300 partisans on the battlefield. 203 prisoners fell into our hands. This success is particularly attributed to the determined actions of Lieutenant Colonel von Boddien, who as commander of the Reconnaissance Battalion of Infantry Division was killed in this battle. The Führer and Supreme Commander of the Army has subsequently awarded this brave officer the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.