Date of birth:

September 27th, 1918 (Eberswalde/Brandenburg, Germany)

Date of death:

July 4th, 2005 (Barsbüttel/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Promotions:
November 2nd, 1937: Fahnenjunker;
May 2nd, 1938: Gefreiter;
August 1st, 1938: Unteroffizier;
April 4th, 1939: Fähnrich (as from March 1st, 1939);
August 1st, 1939: Oberfähnrich;
September 1st, 1939: Leutnant (RDA: -80-);
September 15th, 1941: Oberleutnant (RDA: October 1st, 1941 63-);
January 30th, 1942: Oberleutnant (RDA: Augustus 1st, 1940 -72a-);
February 1st, 1943: Hauptmann (RDA: -38-).

Career:
1925: Volksschule Stolp, Pommeren;
1925: Volksschule Stargard;
1929: Gymnasium Stargard;
1937: Reichsarbeitsdienst;
November 2nd, 1937: Infanterie-Regiment 25;
November 15th, 1938: Kriegsschule Wiener Neustadt;
August 26th, 1939: Zugführer, 6. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90;
July 14th, 1941: Führer, 6. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90;
September 2nd, 1941: Lazerett;
September 30th, 1941: Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon (motorisiert) 76;
January 1st, 1942: Führerreserve Heeresgruppe Nord;
January 8th, 1942: Chef, 6. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90;
July 29th, 1942: Adjutant, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90;
October 15th, 1942: Adjutant, Grenadier-Regiment (motorisiert) 90;
13 december 1942: IIa, 20. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert);
1943: Lehrgang für höhere Adjutanten;
July 23rd, 1943: IIa, 20. Panzergrenadier-Division;
August 1st, 1944: Generalstabsausbildung, 7. Gebirgs-Division;
August 19th, 1944: 21. Abteilungsführer-Lehrgang für Panzer Truppen;
August 28th, 1944: IIa, 20. Panzergrenadier-Division;
December 15th, 1944: Generalstabsausbildung 16. Lehrgang, Kriegsakademie.

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Rank:

Fahnenjunker (Officer Cadet)

Awarded on:

1937

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90, 20. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

November 4th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90, 20. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90, 20. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90, 20. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 29th, 1940

Bronze version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer, 6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90, 20. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 13th, 1941

The following wartime excerpt describes why Bursche was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“During the early morning hours the attack of the 6./I.R. 90 proceeded forwards up to the eastern edge of Petruschino amidst bitter urban combat. Leutnant Bursche, the Kompanie commander, fought at the head of his unit with his machine-pistol and hand grenades. He ceaselessly inspired his men forwards through his example, even after he was personally wounded by a grazing shot to the chest. Leutnant Bursche and his 6. Kompanie then held this northernmost point on the Newa river for 3 days, and in doing so they tied down considerable enemy forces by threatening their bridgehead.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90, 20. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 8th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 90, 20. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 23rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

IIa, 20. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer

Awarded on:

June 8th, 1944

• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GüNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993.
  - Beurteilung Hauptmann.
  - Beurteilung Oberleutnant.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002