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Willibald Borowietz

1893 – 1945

German General and Knight's Cross recipient

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About Willibald Borowietz

Lived 1893 – 1945 (aged 51). Willibald Borowietz was a German military personnel, non-fiction writer, lieutenant general and military officer.

Willibald Borowietz (17 September 1893 – 1 July 1945) was a German general during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.

Borowietz surrendered to Allied forces together with the Afrika Korps. He was held as a POW by the United States in Camp Clinton, Mississippi, where he died by suicide, electrocuting himself in a bathtub on 1 July 1945. Reports initially described his death as a cerebral hemorrhage while official Army records recorded it as an electrocution.

His wife, Eva Ledien, was of Jewish descent. She took her own life in October 1938 so that their children could be Aryanized. Eva's sister, Käthe (Ledien) Bosse, was killed in Ravensbrück concentration camp on 16 December 1944.

Awards and decorations Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (6 October 1914) & 1st Class (25 June 1915) Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (25 September 1939) & 1st Class (11 June 1940) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 24 July 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Schützen-Regiment 10 Oak Leaves on 10 May 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of 15.Panzer-Division

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
German Cross in Gold; Citation (achievements on the battlefield); Eastern Medal; General Assault Badge; Medal of Military Valour; Commemorative Medal for World War I Bulgaria 1933; Africa cuffband; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves; General Assault Badge 1st level (without numbers)

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Willibald Borowietz's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Willibald Borowietz?

German General and Knight's Cross recipient (1893-1945)

When was Willibald Borowietz born?

Willibald Borowietz was born on 17 September 1893 in Racibórz.

When did Willibald Borowietz die?

Willibald Borowietz died on 1 July 1945 in Clinton.

What was Willibald Borowietz's occupation?

Willibald Borowietz was a military personnel, non-fiction writer, lieutenant general and military officer.

What nationality was Willibald Borowietz?

Willibald Borowietz was German.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Willibald Borowietz

· Wikidata: Q3068956

· DBpedia: Willibald Borowietz

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Willibald Borowietz. https://biography.guide/willibald-borowietz/

MLA: "Willibald Borowietz." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/willibald-borowietz/.

Chicago: "Willibald Borowietz." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/willibald-borowietz/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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