Hans von Boineburg-Lengsfeld

June 9, 1889 (age 91)

Eisenach, Germany

He began forming the 23d Pz Div around Paris on 25 Sep 1941. Immediately promoted (1 Oct), Generalmajor von Boineburg served in Russia as Georg Stumme’s CofS in the 40th Pz Corps. This was in AG Center until transferred in June 1942 to the Kharkov sector in Fedor von Bock's AG South. Thanks largely to the intercession of von Bock, Boineburg escaped punishment for the serious security violation for which STUMME was made the scapegoat. Boineburg took command of the 23d Pz Div on 26 Aug 1942 and was promoted to Generallcutnant on 1 Dec 1942. But on 28 Dec, while in action around Stalingrad, he was crushed by a tank. Although badly mutilated, the monocled baron recovered sufficiently from countless broken bones to take command of Greater Paris in 1943. “Paris is France,” the Germans knew from many wars, and Hitler intended to make the capital a fortress. But the cultured, sybaritic new German commander evaded his instructions by establishing defenses, the “Boineburg Line,” well outside the 30-square-mile urban area and did not make preparations for the prescribed heavy demolition of the bridges and buildings inside the city. OKW examined his plans on 14 Mar 1944, declared them “grossly deficient,” but ordered few changes. When Heinrich von Stulpnagel received the message on 20 July 1944 that Hitler had been assassinated, Boineburg arrested the 1,200 SS and Gestapo men in Greater Paris as called for under Opn Valkyrie. When he learned of the snafu, Boineburg had the captives released and somehow talked himself out of trouble. But on 9 Aug 1944 he was replaced by Choltitz. A consummate survivor, Boineburg was taken prisoner at Erfurt by US forces.

Hans von Boineburg-Lengsfeld

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General military

Background

Hans von Boineburg-Lengsfeld was born on June 9, 1889 Thuringia (present Germany).

Education

Boineburg-Lengsfeld joined the army of Imperial Germany as an Fahnen-junker (officer cadet) in 1910.

Career

He began forming the 23d Pz Div around Paris on 25 Sep 1941. Immediately promoted (1 Oct), Generalmajor von Boineburg served in Russia as Georg Stumme’s CofS in the 40th Pz Corps. This was in AG Center until transferred in June 1942 to the Kharkov sector in Fedor von Bock's AG South. Thanks largely to the intercession of von Bock, Boineburg escaped punishment for the serious security violation for which STUMME was made the scapegoat. Boineburg took command of the 23d Pz Div on 26 Aug 1942 and was promoted to Generallcutnant on 1 Dec 1942. But on 28 Dec, while in action around Stalingrad, he was crushed by a tank. Although badly mutilated, the monocled baron recovered sufficiently from countless broken bones to take command of Greater Paris in 1943. “Paris is France,” the Germans knew from many wars, and Hitler intended to make the capital a fortress. But the cultured, sybaritic new German commander evaded his instructions by establishing defenses, the “Boineburg Line,” well outside the 30-square-mile urban area and did not make preparations for the prescribed heavy demolition of the bridges and buildings inside the city. OKW examined his plans on 14 Mar 1944, declared them “grossly deficient,” but ordered few changes.

When Heinrich von Stulpnagel received the message on 20 July 1944 that Hitler had been assassinated, Boineburg arrested the 1,200 SS and Gestapo men in Greater Paris as called for under Opn Valkyrie. When he learned of the snafu, Boineburg had the captives released and somehow talked himself out of trouble. But on 9 Aug 1944 he was replaced by Choltitz. A consummate survivor, Boineburg was taken prisoner at Erfurt by US forces.

Personality

Freiherr was of refined tastes.

Physical Characteristics: He was a lean, grimly handsome colonel.

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Hans von Boineburg-Lengsfeld

Background

Education

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Born

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Career

1938 - 1939

1941

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Awards

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, Germany