Karl-Heinz Boska

Karl Heinz Boska (18 October 1920 – 22 October 2004) was a Hauptsturmführer (Chief Storm Leader/Captain), in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life
Karl Heinz Boska was born on 18 October 1920 in Kiel. He attended the elementary school in Kiel-Hassee and then in 1932 changed to upper II at the Royal University in Kiel. Then in 1937 he moved to the Napola Boska Plön, where he remained until the beginning of the war.

World War II
Boska volunteered for ths SS and after the Polish Campaign was posted to the 1st SS Motorcycle Reserve Battalion in September 1939. Then in June 1940 was posted to the 3rd Company, Reconnaissance Battalion, SS-VT (auxiliary) for the Battle of France.

In February 1941 he was now part of the newly formed Motorcycle Battalion, Das Reich for the invasion of the Balkans (Operation Marita).

In September 1941 he was selected to be an officer and sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Brunswick where he remained until April 1942.

After graduation he was posted to the SS Regiment Langemarck, as a platoon leader and remained with the Langemarck until October 1942, when he was posted to the new II.Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment Das Reich which was just being formed, as a Untersturmführer  (Storm Leader/Second Lieutenant) and platoon leader in the Headquarters Company.

In October 1943 he was given command of the 6th Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, which in November 1943 was in the Schewtschenkiwka sector. Where he was assigned to defend the area of the 344th Panzer Grenadier Regiment against the expected Russian tank assault.

On the morning of 13 November near Bolschaja Grab, the Russian infantry mounted a large and dangerous surprise attack on the 2nd Company Headquarters. Russian troops managing to close to less than 200 meters before being detected. Obersturmführer Boska, rallied and led 5 of his panzers in a ferocious counterattack which over the period of a two-hour battle destroyed 12 Russian anti-tank guns, 2 field guns and killed 380 Russian troops earning him an immediate recommendation for the Knight's Cross by the Divisional commander, Walter Krüger.

On 16 December Boska was promoted to Obersturmführer (Senior Storm Leader/First Lieutenant) and Adjutant of the II.Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment and received the Knight's Cross.

In July 1944 Boska was transferred to the staff of the 7th Army, under Oberstgruppenführer, Paul Hausser, until September 1944 when he returned to the 6th Company which was involved in the heavy fighting in and around Vienna.

Post war
Boska was made a prisoner of war, by the British forces and was released in March 1948. Karl Heinz Boska died on 22 October 2004 in Raisdorf near Kiel.