Christian Bachmann

Christian Bachmann
Born	23 November 1919 Nordlingen, Germany
Died	15 March 1945 Missing in action near Stuhlweissenburg, Hungary
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1933–1945
Rank	Sturmbannführer
Unit	3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Infantry Assault Badge in Silver Wound Badge in Gold Eastern Front Medal 1941/42 [1]

Christian Bachmann 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.^[1]

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).^[2][3]

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.^[2] 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.^[1][2][3]

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.^[1][2][3]

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.^[1][2][3]

Promotions

• 1938 SS-Sturmmann
• 1938 SS-Rottenführer
• 1939 SS-Unterscharführer
• 1941 SS-Untersturmführer
• 1942 SS-Obersturmführer
• 1944 SS-Hauptsturmführer
• 1945 SS-Sturmbannführer (posthumously) ^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "orion47". Archived from the original on 2009-10-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20091028181125/http://geocities.com/~orion47/SS-POLIZEI/SS-Stubaf_A-C.html. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "ritterkreuztraeger". http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/b/B013Bachmann-Christian.pdf. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Bachmann" (in Norwegian). Nordmenn i Waffen-SS, 1941-1945. http://www.frontkjemper.info/show_person.php?P_ID=577. 

• Kurowski Franz, Infantry Aces, Stackpole Books, 2005, ISBN 0811732029
• Florian Berger (2004), Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold, ISBN 3-9501307-3-X
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Mitcham, Jr.Samuel, Retreat to the Reich, Stackpole books 2007. ISBN 081173384X
• Henschler Henri & Fay Will, Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 0811729052

Persondata
Name	Bachmann, Christian
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	23 November 1919
Place of birth	Nordlingen, Germany
Date of death	15 March 1945
Place of death	Missing in action near Stuhlweissenburg, Hungary