Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Böttcher served in the Deutsches Afrikakorps under Erwin Rommel. Rommel innovated by creating an independent command for his artillery, allowing them to be used in a concentrated manner.
He placed Böttcher in command.
As such it became a very effective means for adding punch to the Afrika Korps" attack. Later with the death of von Bismark, Böttcher was made commander of the 21st Panzer Division.
Karl Böttcher was captured by the Western Allies in 1945 and was held until 1947. Iron Cross (1914) Bibliography.