# Georg Bochmann

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**Georg Bochmann** (18 September 1913 – 8 June 1973) was a high-ranking commander and *[Oberführer](/source/Oberf%C3%BChrer)* in the [Waffen-SS](/source/Waffen-SS) who commanded the [SS Division Götz von Berlichingen](/source/SS_Division_G%C3%B6tz_von_Berlichingen) and the [SS Division Horst Wessel](/source/SS_Division_Horst_Wessel). He was a recipient of the [Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords](/source/Knight's_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross_with_Oak_Leaves_and_Swords).

## Early career

Bochmann was born in [Albernau](/source/Zschorlau), in [Saxony](/source/Saxony) on the border with [Bohemia](/source/Bohemia). His family were textile workers of modest means. He studied at the [University of Leipzig](/source/University_of_Leipzig). After joining the [Hitler Youth](/source/Hitler_Youth), Bochmann joined the [Nazi Party](/source/Nazi_Party) in 1933 (Membership Number: 1,907,565) and the [SS](/source/SS) the following year (Membership Number: 122,362), working at the [Dachau concentration camp](/source/Dachau_concentration_camp). In 1936, he was appointed to the "SS-Totenkopf Standarte *Oberbayern*".

## World War II

In November 1939 he was appointed SS-*[Obersturmführer](/source/Obersturmf%C3%BChrer)* and "was a prime mover in the creation and outfitting of the SS Totenkopf Division, 1939-1940."[1] In 1940, he assumed command of an armoured unit within the [SS Division Totenkopf](/source/SS_Division_Totenkopf) and during the French campaign the division fought at [Cambrai](/source/Cambrai), [Arras](/source/Arras), [Dunkirk](/source/Dunkirk), and participated in deep thrusts into southwestern France. For his successes Bochmann received the [Iron Cross](/source/Iron_Cross), second class. A little later he was promoted to SS-*[Hauptsturmführer](/source/Hauptsturmf%C3%BChrer)*. The [3rd SS Division Totenkopf](/source/3rd_SS_Division_Totenkopf) remained in France until April 1941 when it was transferred east to prepare for [Operation Barbarossa](/source/Operation_Barbarossa).

On the eastern front the Totenkopf fought as part of the German Army Group North. Bochmann fought in the Baltic to [Leningrad](/source/Leningrad) and was cited for his performances at [Kaunas](/source/Kaunas) and [Dünaburg](/source/D%C3%BCnaburg) in [Latvia](/source/Latvia). In July 1941 Bochmann received the [Iron Cross](/source/Iron_Cross), first class, and in August 1941 the division reached [Ilmen lake](/source/Lake_Ilmen).

In January 1942 [3rd SS Division Totenkopf](/source/3rd_SS_Division_Totenkopf) was formally transferred to the German *Second Army Corps* and during the [Soviet](/source/Soviet_Union) winter offensive there was a particularly savage battle at [Demyansk](/source/Demyansk). Nearly 100,000 German soldiers were surrounded for three months and were mostly supplied by [Luftwaffe](/source/Luftwaffe) air drops. For his actions, Bochmann was awarded the Knight's Cross. A little after that he received the [Demyansk Shield](/source/Demyansk_Shield). On 2 April 1942 Bochmann was promoted to SS-*[Sturmbannführer](/source/Sturmbannf%C3%BChrer)* (major).

On 21 October 1942 Bochmann was appointed commander of the 2nd Motorised Battalion of the Regiment "Thule" (within the [3rd SS Division Totenkopf](/source/3rd_SS_Division_Totenkopf)). In late October the division was withdrawn to [France](/source/France) for refitting. After returning to the eastern front, Bochmann assumed command of the 3rd Motorised Battalion and participated in the battles for [Kharkov](/source/Kharkov). He was awarded the Oak Leaves to Knight's Cross on 17 May 1943.

Later Bochmann was appointed to command the Panzer Regiment in the division; on 9 November 1943 he was promoted SS-*[Obersturmbannführer](/source/Obersturmbannf%C3%BChrer)* (lieutenant colonel). He commanded the "Totenkopf's" Panzer-Regiment through the [Battle of Kursk](/source/Battle_of_Kursk) and the subsequent battles along the Mius. Following fresh injuries he was withdrawn from the front and sent home. In [Germany](/source/Germany) he was appointed head of [SS](/source/SS) Officer's School for Administration in [Arolsen](/source/Arolsen), [Hesse](/source/Hesse). On 9 November 1944 he was promoted to SS-*[Standartenführer](/source/Standartenf%C3%BChrer)* and transferred to [2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich](/source/2nd_SS_Panzer_Division_Das_Reich). However, after only a few weeks he was hastily transferred to command the 9th SS armored regiment in the [9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen](/source/9th_SS_Panzer_Division_Hohenstaufen) on 20 November.

Bochmann actually only returned to combat on 2 January 1945 when he was appointed commander of the [18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel](/source/18th_SS_Volunteer_Panzergrenadier_Division_Horst_Wessel). After a brief stint fighting in the west, the division was moved to the eastern front, where it was decimated and quickly surrounded by the [Red Army](/source/Red_Army) in Oberglogau, [Silesia](/source/Silesia). Although wounded, Bochmann led a successful breakthrough and was awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross (becoming the 140th recipient), Oak Leaves and the prestigious [Wound Badge](/source/Wound_Badge) in Gold. Also he was promoted to SS-*[Oberführer](/source/Oberf%C3%BChrer)* on 20 April 1945.[1]

With only a few weeks of the war left, Bochmann was appointed commander of the [17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen](/source/17th_SS_Panzergrenadier_Division_G%C3%B6tz_von_Berlichingen). After retreating through [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria) he refused suicidal orders from *[Generalfeldmarschall](/source/Generalfeldmarschall)* [Ferdinand Schörner](/source/Ferdinand_Sch%C3%B6rner) to attack Allied troops, was dismissed from his post and plans were started to court martial him.[2]

He would then lead SS troops from the Berlichingen at the [Battle of Castle Itter](/source/Battle_of_Castle_Itter). In its aftermath, on 9 May 1945 Georg Bochmann surrendered to [United States](/source/United_States) troops in the [Rottach-Egern](/source/Rottach-Egern) region.

Georg Bochmann died in 1973.

## Awards

- [Iron Cross](/source/Iron_Cross) (1939) 2nd Class (20 June 1940) & 1st Class (8 July 1941)[3]
- [Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords](/source/Knight's_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross_with_Oak_Leaves_and_Swords) - Knight's Cross on 3 May 1942 as SS-*[Hauptsturmführer](/source/Hauptsturmf%C3%BChrer)* and as leader of SS "Totenkopf"-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung.[4] - 246th Oak Leaves on 17 May 1943 as SS-*[Sturmbannführer](/source/Sturmbannf%C3%BChrer)* and commander of the II./SS-Krad-Schützen-Regiment "Thule"[4] - 140th Swords on 26 March 1945 as SS-*[Standartenführer](/source/Standartenf%C3%BChrer)* and leader of the 18. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel"[4]

## References

### Citations

1. Ailsby 1997, p. 17.

1. Reitlinger 1981, p. 87.

1. Thomas 1997, p. 55.

1. Scherzer 2007, p. 227.

### Bibliography

- Ailsby, Christopher (1997). *SS: Roll of Infamy*. London: Brown Books. ISBN 1-897884-22-2.
- Reitlinger, Gerald (1981). *The SS : Alibi of a Nation 1922–1945*. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-839936-8.
- 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). *Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K* [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Georg Bochmann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Bochmann) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Bochmann?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.