Hermann Borchers

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Hermann Borchers
Born 5 December 1910
Wendhausen, Germany
Died 31 August 1974 (1974-09-01) (aged 63)
Berlin
Allegiance Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1934–1945
Rank Sturmbannführer
Unit 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
War Merit Cross class II with swords
Iron Cross 1st *Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze
Honour Chevron for the Old Guard
Relations Major Walter Borchers, Knight's Cross
Hauptmann Adolf Borchers, Knight's Cross

Hermann Borchers (5 December 1910 – 31 August 1974) was a Sturmbannführer (Storm Unit Leader/Major) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II. He was also one of three brothers all awarded the Knight's Cross.

Early life

Hermann Borchers was born on 5 December 1910, in Wendhausen near Lüneburg. He attended the local elementary school and joined the SA on 1 November 1928.

In 1931 to assist with his language skills in English and French he lived in England and Belgium until 1934.

On his return home he volunteered to join the SS-VT in August 1934 (SS number 257.879) and was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and in March 1935 joined the NSDAP (party number 257.879).

Selected to become an officer he was posted to the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig in June 1936.

After graduation he was transferred to the staff of the Reichsführer-SS in May 1937, and served in the Schutzpolizei in Lübeck being promoted to Leutnant of Schutzpolizei. In May 1938 he was sent to the Police School at Berlin Köpenick.

World War II

In March 1940 he married Elfriede Lifka and they had a son who was born in December 1940.

In February 1941, he was given command of a company in the 26th Polizei Regiment in Norway and assisted in the formation of the Hird Battalion which was formed to guard Russian and Serbian prisoners of war.

In August 1942 he returned to Germany and was assigned to training the police and the SS Motorised Reserve Battalion and remained in that role until February 1943, and the formation of the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen when he was given command of the 1st Company, 19th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, until July 1944, when he took over command of the I.Battalion 19th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment.

During the Normandy campaign his battalion was located on the west bank of the River Orne. The battalion attacked and captured the feature 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) east of Saint-Martin. Acting alone the battalion fought off a four hour attack by the British which included the destruction of two tank squadrons.

For his success in defending the St Martin's area Borchers was promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Chief Storm Leader/Captain) and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Post war

Hermann Borchers survived the war and died on 31 August 1974, in Berlin.

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Scherzer as leader of the I./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 19.[1]

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 235.
  2. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 140.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7. 
  • Henschler Henri & Fay Will (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-2905-2
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
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