Albrecht von Boxberg

class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: #B0C4DE; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" | Albrecht von Boxberg
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Birth date	4 May 1913
Place of birth	Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
Death date	12 September 1985 (aged 72)
Place of death	Burgdorf (Hanover), West Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic National Socialist Germany West Germany
Service/branch	File:War Ensign of the Reichswehr, 1919 - 1935.png Reichswehr File:Balkenkreuz.png Heer File:Flag and Coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Germany.png Amt „Blank“ File:Bundeswehr cross.png Bundeswehr
Years of service	1934–35 1935–1945 1952–55 1955–71
Rank	Offizieranwärter (Reichswehr) Oberstleutnant (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Commands held	II./Panzer-Regiment 3
Battles/wars	World War II Accession of Austria Liberation of the Sudetenland Poland campaign Battle of France Yugoslavia campaign (Balkanfeldzug) Operation Barbarossa Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Kursk
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Albrecht Kurt Georg von Boxberg (4 May 1913 – 12 September 1985) was a German officer candidate of the Reichswehr as well as officer of the Wehrmacht and the Bundeswehr, at last Oberst and Recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Life

Albrecht von Boxberg attended the Kleinwelka boys' school from 1919 to 1928 and then the Oberrealschule Bautzen until 1934, where he passed his Abitur. He joined the 4th squadron of the 12th Cavalry Regiment on 11 July 1934 as an officer cadet and was promoted there to Gefreiter and instructor on 1 October 1934. On 14 January 1935, he was assigned to the first course at the ensign course in Munich and came on 1 October 1935 as a platoon leader to the weapons course at the Army Forces Driving School in Wünsdorf. Assigned to Panzer Regiment 3 on 13 February 1936, with effect from 1 October 1935, he took over the position of platoon commander in the 2nd company and was an orderly officer in the regiment since 1 October 1937. From 1 July 1938 adjutant of the 1st battalion, he took part in the integration of Austria and the Sudetenland into the Reich.

WWII

The first battles in the Poland campaign followed in 1939, after which he was appointed commander of the 1st company on 1 October 1939. As such, he was wounded twice in the Battle of France on 13 May and on 12 June 1940. On 22 June 1941, he started with the 2nd Panzer Division into the Operation Barbarossa. There he was appointed adjutant in the Panzer Regiment 3 on 12 November 1941. Another document states 14 November 1941. Since 3 July 1942 commander of the 2nd battalion of the regiment, taking over this post on 15 July 1942. He was wounded again on 6 July 1943 and became on 20 November 1943 commander of the Tank Replacement and Training Battalion 4 (Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 4) in Vienna-Mödling appointed. As early as 12 December 1942, he had distinguished himself through personal bravery at the point of entry south of Ssychevka. In doing so, he defeated the far superior enemy with his tank detachment, destroying a total of 40 of 70 tanks and thus pulling the entire detachment forward to attack. On 13 November 1943, Major von Boxberg led an armored combat group consisting of 6 tanks from the 2nd Division, 10 armored scout cars from the 1st Battalion of the Panzergrenadier Regiment 304 and 4 self-propelled guns from the 1st Company of the 38th Tank Destroyer Division.

From 1 April 1944 in the Führer-Reserve with simultaneous command in the 3rd Battalion for Tank and Supply Troops of the Department Group P1 in the OKH (3. Abteilung für Panzer- und Nachschubtruppen der Amtsgruppe P1 im OKH), where he held the post of group leader of group b for tank and tank destroyers, as well as armored trains (Gruppenleiter der Gruppe b für Panzer- und Panzerjäger, sowie Eisenbahn-Panzer-Züge). As such, he was taken prisoner by the US-Americans on 9 May 1945, from which he was released on 6 February 1946.

Knight's Cross

Boxberg’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows:

“On the 13.11.1943 Major von Boxberg led an armoured battle group (Kampfgruppe) consisting of 6 Panzers (from II./Panzer-Regiment 3), 10 scout cars (I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 304 (gep)) and 4 self-propelled guns of the 1./Panzerjäger-Abteilung 36 (sf). The Kampfgruppe was held as a ready reserve south of Wishemir. Starting at midnight on the 12./13.11.1943, as our own forces were withdrawing, the enemy began a fierce pursuit on our right wing with strong infantry forces (1 rifle division) and elements of a tank brigade. This vastly complicated the construction of a new frontline, and a consequence of this was that a gap was formed on the right between the 2. Panzer-Division and 102. Infanterie-Division. By around midday the constant enemy attacks had once again reached a critical stage, and as such it appeared that the hard-won new frontline of the Division would be lost. The Division asked the Generalkommando of XX. Armee-Korps for permission to withdraw to a shortened line. This request was approved. However Major von Boxberg, who was currently at the frontline, realized that a favourable situation existed for a counterthrust despite the otherwise critical conditions. He thrust forward at the head of his Kampfgruppe on his own initiative, only informing the Division of his actions at a later time. He went forth with the boldness that he had always shown since the start of the Russian campaign, and did so despite the seemingly insurmountable terrain difficulties (i.e. a swampy forest) as well as the very strong enemy resistance (especially due to their anti-tank defenses). Along with his attached infantry, he reached the old frontline as darkness fell. He then pressed further forwards, and at 21:00 he reported that he and his Kampfgruppe had made contact to the left. After hearing of this, the Division refrained from carrying out its ordered withdrawal movement, and it sent in additional infantry forces taken from alarm units to reinforce Kampfgruppe von Boxberg. With these forces, he then turned southwards and launched another major attack. Personally leading from the frontline, he captured Hill 131.2 and thereby closed the gap to the 102. Infanterie-Division. The outstanding leadership demonstrated by Major von Boxberg thwarted the enemy aim to separate both Divisions, and it ultimately led to the restoration of a stable situation. This was a very important achievement, as at the time the Division’s left wing was simultaneously being threatened by a Russian thrust to the Retschitza—Kalinkowitschi road.”

Post-war

After his imprisonment, he joined the Blank office as a personnel consultant (Personalreferent in die Dienststelle Blank) on 1 November 1952, then became a personnel consultant in the Federal Ministry of Defense (Bundesministerium für Verteidigung) on 1 November 1955 and attended a troop course at the Munster Armored Training School (Panzertruppenschule Munster) on 1 October 1956. As a result, from 1 December 1956, he was appointed deputy commander of Kampfgruppe B, the later 13th Panzergrenadier Brigade. From 17 November 1960, he was training course group commander (Lehrgruppen-Kommandeur) at the Panzer Troops School Munster and from 1 October 1962 training course group commander (Lehrgruppen-Kommandeur) and deputy commander at the Army Officers School I in Hanover, where he took over the leadership of the school staff. Appointed commander of the Munster Training Area (Kommandant des Truppenübungsplatzes Munster) on 1 October 1969, Oberst von Boxberg retired on 30 September 1971. From 1972 to 1974 he was state manager of the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe Lower Saxony (Landesgeschäftsführer der Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe Niedersachsen). Before and after his Bundeswehr service he was a graduate farmer (Diplom-Landwirt).

Family

Albrecht was the son of Oberregierungsrat Karl Albert von Boxberg (1884–1967), owner of the manor (Rittergut) Großwelka (Groß-Welka), and his wife Sybille, née von Winckler (1891–1983). From 1875, the von Boxberg family resided on the manor. Karl von Boxberg, the last owner, was expelled with parts of his family in April 1945 (to Bautzen), arrested in October 1945, escaped to Bavaria in April 1946 and expropriated by the communists after WWII when the land reform was implemented. Albrecht had a sister and a brother:

• Freya Maria Elisabeth (b 22.1.1921 auf Groß-Welka) ∞ in Dresden-Plauen on 5.6.1948 Reinhold Müller (1917–1975)
• Wolfram Ottomar (b. 22.10.1931 auf Groß-Welka), Diplom-Landwirt, Rechtsritter des Johanniterordens ∞ in Tübingen on 21.7.1962 Karin Freiin von Bistram (b. 31.8.1933 in Berlin-Tempelhof)

Marriages

Albrecht von Boxberg married on 9 March 1942 in Wien his fiancée Ursula (1920–1970), daughter of industrialist Ignaz Seidl (1884–1922) and his wife Paula, née Siegl (b. 1894). Her brothers were Prof. Dr. jur. Dr. h. c. Ignaz Christian Seidl-Hohenveldern (1918–2001) and Dr jur. Eduard Seidl (b. 1921), export consultant in Cologne. Albrecht and Ursula had a daughter (b. 1943) and a son (b. 1944).

Widower von Boxberg married in Burgdorf on 7 October 1972 Mechtild Steifensand (b. 3.1.1925 in Stolp), widow of Oberstleutnant Bernhard Martini-Rodewitz (1915–1968).

Promotions

• 11.7.1934 Offizieranwärter (an alternative source states 11.6.1934)
• 1.10.1934 Gefreiter
• 1.12.1934 Unteroffizier
• 1.6.1935 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
• 25.10.1935 Oberfähnrich with effect from 1.10.1935
• 1.4.1936 Leutnant
• 1.3.1939 Oberleutnant
• 1.2.1942 Hauptmann with rank seniority (RDA) from 1.7.1941
  • 30.1.1943 new rank seniority (RDA) from 1.7.1940 received
• 20.4.1943 Major with rank seniority (RDA) from 1.2.1943
• 20.4.1945 Oberstleutnant
• 28.2.1961 Oberst (BW) with effect from 1.12.1960

Awards and decorations

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award (Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung), 4th Class (4 years) on 10 July 1938
• Anschluss Medal (Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938) on 8 November 1938
• Sudetenland Medal (Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938) on 25 October 1939
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (15 October 1939)
  • 1st Class (31 May 1940)
• Panzer Badge (Panzerkampfabzeichen des Heeres) in Silver on 18 May/1 June 1940
• Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen 1939) in Black, Silver and Gold
  • in Black (20 June 1940)
  • in Silver (30 December 1942)
  • in Gold (11 July 1943)
• Erinnerungsmedaille für die Verteidigung der Slowakei on 1 October 1940 (acceptance approval on 28 January 1941)
• Bulgarian Order of Bravery, IV Class, 2nd Grade (IV. Klasse, 2. Stufe) on 2 June 1942 (acceptance approval on 25 August 1942)
• Eastern Front Medal (Ostmedaille) on 18 September/6 December 1942
• Croatian Medal for Bravery
• Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres für hervorragende Leistungen auf dem Schlachtfeld on 1 October 1943
• German Cross in Gold on 15 December 1941 as Oberleutnant in the 1./Panzer-Regiment 3
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 February 1944 as Major and commander of II./Panzer-Regiment 3/2. Panzer-Division

FRG

• Knight of Justice (Rechtsritter) of the Johanniter Order (Johanniterorden)
• Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland), 1st Class

Further reading

• Walther-Peer Fellgiebel: Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German), Podzun-Pallas, Wölfersheim 2000, ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6
  • English: The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches, expanded edition, 2000
• Klaus D. Patzwall / Veit Scherzer: Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber, Band II (in German), Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt 2001, ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8
• Veit Scherzer: Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German), Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag, Jena 2007, ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2