Georg von Boeselager | |
---|---|
Born |
Kassel, Kingdom of Prussia |
25 August 1915
Died | 27 August 1944 Łomża, General Government |
(aged 29)
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Years of service | 1934–44 |
Rank | Oberst |
Battles/wars |
Invasion of Poland Battle of France Eastern Front |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Relations | Philipp von Boeselager |
Georg von Boeselager (25 August 1915 – 27 August 1944) was a German nobleman and an officer in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany, who led rear security operations in the area of Army Group Centre on the Eastern Front, calling for harsh measures, including shooting of all males in "gang-infested areas".
Along with his younger brother Philipp von Boeselager, he participated in the 1944 20 July Plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Soon after the plot failed, Boeselager was killed in action and was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.
Boeselager was born near Kassel into the noble Boeselager family. After enlisting in the army in 1934, he trained with the a cavalry regiment. He became an officer in 1936 and in March 1939 was promoted to First Lieutenant. Boeselager took part in the Invasion of Poland and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class. For his actions in the Battle of France (the bridging of the Seine near Les Andelys on 13 June 1940), he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class. The following January, he won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. By July, he had been promoted to Captain.
In Operation Barbarossa, Boeselager's company performed reconnaissance for the double-pronged sweep around Brest-Litovsk to take Białystok and Minsk, seized bridgeheads over the Neman and Daugava rivers, and participated in the Battle of Moscow. For accomplishing his duties with distinction, he was granted the Knight's Cross with Oak leaves on 31 December 1941. He was then posted as instructor at the "School for Shocktroops" in Krampintz. While there, Boeselager became acquainted with members of the military resistance, who realised the war was not going well.