Christian Bachmann

Christian Bachmann
Born (1919-11-23)23 November 1919
Nordlingen, Germany
Died 15 March 1945(1945-03-15) (aged 25)
Missing in action near Stuhlweissenburg, Hungary
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1933–45
Rank Sturmbannführer
Unit 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf
Battles/wars World War II
Awards

Christian Bachmann (23 November 1919 — 15 March 1945) was a Sturmbannführer (Major), in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, an award given by Nazi Germany for extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II.

Christian Bachmann was born on the 23 November 1919 at Nordlingen in Schwaben.

He volunteered to join the SS and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in June 1940. He was in 1941 commissioned as an officer, taking the rank Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant).

On further promotion to Obersturmführer(Senior Storm Leader) in September 3rd SS Division Totenkopf 1942, Bachmann was posted onto the staff of the III.Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, Totenkopf. In 1943 he was given command of the 11th Company, 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Totenkopf and also awarded the German Cross in gold. In 1944 he was given command of the II.5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 5 Totenkopf.

It was when in command of this Battalion that Bachman was sent to Budapest on 1 January 1945, and forced back the Soviet Union forces trying to take Budapest, several kilometers. It was for this action that he was awarded the Knight's Cross in February 1945.

Christian Bachmann was last seen on the 15 March 1945, northwest of Stuhlweissenburg in Hungary. He was shortly thereafter declared missing in action, and posthumously promoted to Sturmbannführer.

Awards

Promotions

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Scherzer as leader of the II./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5.[3]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 20.
  2. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 119.
  3. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 197.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [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. 
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. 
  • Henschler, Henri; Fey, Willi (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5. 
  • Kurowski, Franz (1994). Infantry Aces. New York: Ballantine Book. ISBN 978-0-345-45194-1. 
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7. 
  • 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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