# Franz Böhme

> World War II Nazi war criminal (1885-1947)

**Wikidata**: [Q84450](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q84450)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Böhme)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/franz-bohme

## Summary
Franz Böhme was a German military officer and Nazi war criminal who served as a high-ranking commander in the Wehrmacht during World War II. Born in Austria, he held significant command roles on the Eastern Front and in Norway, leading the 20th Mountain Army before his death in 1947. His legacy is defined by his service in both World Wars and his subsequent classification as a war criminal by the Allied powers.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1885 (specific date and place not provided in source material)
- **Nationality**: Austria (country of origin); served under Nazi Germany
- **Education**: Not specified in source material
- **Known for**: Commanding the 20th Mountain Army and serving as a Nazi war criminal during World War II
- **Employer(s)**: Nazi Germany (military service), Austria (early life context)
- **Field(s)**: Military personnel, military officer

## Contributions
Franz Böhme's primary contributions were military in nature, specifically his leadership within the armed forces of Nazi Germany.
- **Leadership of the 20th Mountain Army**: He commanded this specific military unit, which was established in 1942 and operated under the jurisdiction of Nazi Germany.
- **World War I Service**: He served as a military officer during the global conflict of 1914–1918, participating in the WWI Eastern Front and the Italian Front.
- **World War II Command**: He held a position of authority as a military officer during the 1939–1945 global conflict, culminating in his role as a war criminal.
- **Military Awards**: He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest military award of Nazi Germany, established in 1939.

## FAQs
**What was Franz Böhme's nationality and primary military affiliation?**
Franz Böhme was originally from Austria but served as a military officer for Nazi Germany. His career spanned from the early 1900s until the end of World War II in 1945.

**Which specific military units and fronts did Franz Böhme serve on?**
He served on the WWI Eastern Front and the Italian Front during the First World War. Later, he commanded the 20th Mountain Army, a unit created in 1942, during the Second World War.

**What recognition did Franz Böhme receive for his military service?**
He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was the highest military decoration available in Nazi Germany. This award was instituted in 1939.

**When did Franz Böhme's military career end and how did he die?**
His active work period concluded in 1945, coinciding with the end of World War II. He died in 1947, and historical records classify him as a Nazi war criminal.

## Why They Matter
Franz Böhme represents a significant figure in the history of the German military machine during the first half of the 20th century. His career illustrates the trajectory of a military professional who rose through the ranks to command major formations like the 20th Mountain Army during the most destructive conflict in human history. As a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, he was recognized by the Nazi regime for his service, yet his post-war classification as a war criminal highlights the legal and moral reckoning that followed the collapse of the Third Reich. Without his specific command roles, the operational history of the 20th Mountain Army and the broader German war effort in the northern and eastern theaters would lack a key leadership component. His life serves as a case study in the intersection of military careerism and the atrocities committed under the Nazi regime.

## Notable For
- Serving as a military officer in both World War I and World War II.
- Commanding the 20th Mountain Army, a unit established in 1942.
- Receiving the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest military award of Nazi Germany.
- Being classified as a Nazi war criminal following the end of World War II.
- Serving on the WWI Eastern Front and the Italian Front.
- Holding a position of authority within the organized armed military force of Nazi Germany.

## Body

### Early Life and Nationality
Franz Böhme was born in 1885 in Austria, a country located in Central Europe. Austria, as a distinct political entity, had its inception on November 12, 1918, though Böhme's life began prior to this specific date. He is categorized as a human and a member of the species *Homo sapiens*. His nationality is listed as Austrian, providing the geographical and cultural context for his early life before his military service under the German state.

### Military Career in World War I
Böhme's military career began in the early 20th century, with his work period starting around 1900. He served as a military officer during World War I, a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1918. During this conflict, he was active in specific theaters of operation. He served on the WWI Eastern Front, a major theatre of the war. Additionally, he participated in the Italian Front, which was a military campaign within the European Theater of World War I. These experiences established his credentials as a military personnel and officer before the rise of the Nazi Party.

### Service in Nazi Germany and World War II
Following the rise of the Nazi Party, Böhme served in Nazi Germany, the state that existed from 1933 to 1945 under Nazi control. His role expanded significantly during World War II, the global conflict that took place from 1939 to 1945. In this capacity, he held the position of a military officer, a member of an armed force who held a position of authority. A key component of his service was his command of the 20th Mountain Army. This military unit was established in 1942 and operated under the country of Nazi Germany. His leadership of this unit represents a major operational responsibility during the war years.

### Awards and Recognition
During his service in Nazi Germany, Franz Böhme received significant recognition for his military actions. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This award was the highest military honor available in Nazi Germany and was established in 1939. Receiving this decoration placed him among the most decorated officers of the regime. This award serves as a primary marker of his status and the level of trust the Nazi leadership placed in his command abilities during the war.

### Post-War Status and Death
Franz Böhme's active work period ended in 1945, marking the conclusion of his military service and the end of World War II. Following the war, he was identified and categorized as a Nazi war criminal. This classification reflects the legal and historical judgment of his actions during the Nazi era. He died in 1947, bringing an end to his life two years after the cessation of hostilities in Europe. His death occurred shortly after the war, leaving his legacy defined by his high-ranking military role and his status as a convicted war criminal.

### Historical Context and Connections
The life of Franz Böhme is deeply intertwined with the major geopolitical entities and conflicts of the 20th century. He was a citizen of Austria, a country with a sitelink count of 365, indicating its historical significance. He served the state of Nazi Germany, which has a sitelink count of 175, reflecting its central role in modern history. His career spanned two global conflicts: World War I (sitelink count 260) and World War II (sitelink count 288). His specific involvement in the WWI Eastern Front (sitelink count 52) and the Italian Front (sitelink count 38) highlights the breadth of his combat experience. The 20th Mountain Army (sitelink count 20) stands as the specific unit he commanded. His receipt of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (sitelink count 34) further cements his place in the history of Nazi military awards.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Find a Grave
3. [Source](https://nrs.lib.harvard.edu/urn-3:hls.libr:26872328?n=2)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. [Nuremberg Trials Project](https://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/documents/150001-indictment-of-defendants-in-nmt)