Hermann Borchers

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 km 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.