Richard von Bothmer

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Richard Graf von Bothmer (born May 27, 1890 in Dieuze , † March 10, 1945 in Jüngsfeld ) was a German major general .

biography

In his noble family with many professional soldiers, Richard was prepared for the officer profession early on. On April 1, 1910, he joined Infantry Regiment No. 138 as a cadet and was immediately promoted to lieutenant.

First World War

During the First World War, Bothmer served as a battalion adjutant in the 138th regiment and was promoted to first lieutenant on December 18, 1915. He then served in the 65th Infantry Brigade. From January to August 1918 he was company commander in the 138th regiment.

Between the wars

In 1919 various uses followed in the regiment. He was promoted to captain on March 20, 1922. From April 1924 to September 1928 he was a training officer at the infantry school. On October 1, he was promoted to company commander in the 3rd Infantry Regiment and in October 1932 to major. He becomes battalion commander in the infantry regiment in Kassel and there on June 1, 1935 a lieutenant colonel. He also served in the 87th Infantry Regiment and then in the 111th Infantry Regiment. On October 1, 1936, he was promoted to colonel. From November 10, 1938 to August 1939, Colonel Bothmer was city commandant of Salzburg.

Second World War

Richard von Bothmer was in the 499th Infantry Regiment until April 1941, then in Naples until January 1942 . Then Bothmer was field commander (768) in Rostov Oblast until March 1943. In the Führerreserve until September 10, 1943, he was then field commander (1032) in north-western Greece in Janina and there on December 1, 1944 promoted to major general. In the Führerreserve from January 1945, Bothmer was appointed Commander-in-Chief in Bonn on February 14, 1945 . With that he took over the responsibility of General Botsch in the Remagen sector. The Remagen bridge there was captured by the Americans on March 7, 1945. Because he, as combat commander of Bonn, had evacuated the city on March 8 without a fight before the advancing American troops in order to avoid further victims and destruction, he was arrested on March 10, 1945.

On the same day before a court martial, he was charged with "neglect of duty and insubordination ", allegedly seizing the gun of a guard and shooting it in the courtroom. The death of his wife and his fallen son could have been the trigger. On the other hand, it is reported that he was sentenced to five years in prison and demotion and pressured to "commit suicide."

His inconspicuous grave is located in Hennef in the middle of the war grave cemetery on Steinstrasse.

literature

  • Dermot Bradley (ed.), Karl-Friedrich Hildebrand, Markus Rövekamp: The Generals of the Army 1921–1945. The military careers of the generals, as well as the doctors, veterinarians, intendants, judges and ministerial officials with the rank of general. Volume 2: v. Blanckensee – v. Czettritz and Neuhauß. Biblio Publishing House. Osnabrück 1993. ISBN 3-7648-2424-7 . Pp. 167-168.
  • Ken Hechler: The Bridge at Remagen: A Story of World War II, 2005 (p.87, p.92-93).

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Commemorative sheet to R. von Bothmer. Retrieved November 25, 2017 .
  2. ↑ Information board at the war grave cemetery, Steinstrasse in Hennef
personal data
SURNAME Bothmer, Richard von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bothmer, Richard Graf von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German major general
DATE OF BIRTH May 27, 1890
PLACE OF BIRTH Dieuze
DATE OF DEATH March 10, 1945
Place of death Jüngsfeld