Hermann Buchner (SS officer)

Hermann Buchner was a Sturmbannführer (Major), in the Waffen SS during World War II who 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 only 631 men awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold.

Early Life and SS Career
Hermann Buchner was born Jan. 16, 1917. He attended college to be a pharmacist, and eventually joined the Waffen-SS. He enlisted in the SS on October 4. 1937, at the rank of SS-Anwarter. He was promoted to SS-Sturmman on 20. December, 1937. He attended officer candidate school, but dropped out once, and barely passed his second attempt.

Totenkopf, Demjansk and Russia
After graduation, he was assigned to SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1. He served as an adjutant to 3. Battalion through the campaigns in France, and saw combat, winning the Iron Cross 2 Class. In the early parts of Operation Barbarossa he was involved in heavy close combat fighting. During the Demjansk encirclement he was again in close combat, and was wounded by shrapnel, but returned to his unit. He was awarded the Demjansk shield. He also recorded many days of close combat or "melee days."

When he earned the Knight's Cross he was the 3. Battalion Kommandeur. He led an infantry attack on a heavily defended position without any heavy armor or artillery support. He not only succeeded, but took comparatively minimal casualties, and hundreds of Russian prisoners. He was also awarded the Tank Destruction Badge, German Cross in Gold, the Wound Badge in Gold and the rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold!

Fate
He was one of few men in the entire German army to be awarded every single bravery medal. He was also the 4th member of the German armed forces to win the prestigious Close Combat Clasp in Gold, eventually recording over 60 "melee days" or days spent in close combat. In July and August 1943 alone, he recorded 20 days of melee.

He was killed in action, West of Warsaw in November 1944, when he was hit in the back by shrapnel.

Although he did poorly in his officer classes, he was still promoted quickly, and ended the war as a Major, or SS-Sturmbannfuhrer. He also was one of few SS Knight's Cross Winners who never joined the Nazi Party, and apposed many of Hitler's policies. His quick climb up the ladder is truly a testament to his excellent service with SS-Division "Totenkopf"

Awards

 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
 * Close Combat Clasp in Gold
 * German Cross in Gold
 * Iron Cross First Class
 * Iron Cross Second Class
 * Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
 * Wound Badge in Gold
 * Eastern Front Medal
 * Demyansk Shield
 * Tank Destruction Badge in Silver

Promotions

 * SS-Sturmmann - 20. Dez. 1937
 * SS-Junker - 1. Apr. 1938
 * SS-Standartenoberjunker - 11. Sept. 1938
 * SS-Untersturmfuhrer - 20. Apr. 1939
 * SS-Obersturmfuhrer - 20. Apr. 1941
 * SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer - 21. Jun. 1942
 * SS-Sturmbannfuhrer - 29. Juli. 1944

Commands

 * 9th Company, SS Totenkopf
 * III. Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Totenkopf
 * II. Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Totenkopf