Theodore Bachenheimer

Theodore Herman Bachenheimer aka Theodor Storm, (23 April 1923 – 22 October 1944), was an American soldier. In just three years, he achieved legendary status as one of the war’s most daring reconnaissance scouts, he was better known as the The Legendary Paratrooper or The G.I.General and was befriended with Martha Gellhorn.

Private Bachenheimer had an extraordinary talent for war, but, in reality was a man of peace. ‘In principle I am against any war,’ he would say, ‘I simply cannot hate anyone. ’He died aged 21.

Biography
He was born in Braunschweig, Germany, the eldest of two, his younger brother Klaus Gautmann (1926-1996) went to became one of the top executives at Southwest Gas Corporation, his father william (1892-1942) was a musician of Jewish descent who served in the German Army during World War I (1914–16) and once voice teacher and coach of actress Joan Blondell, his mother katherina Boetticher (1899-1985) was an actress,  his uncle and namesake (1888-1948), was a producer of light opera based in Hollywood, The Merry Widow and The Waltz King are among the works he either directed or produced.

Following Hitler rise to power, the Bachenheimers moved firstly to Prague afterwards to Vienna, in 1934 they boarded the S.S Majestic in Cherbourg, France and sailed for America and finally stettled in California. Because of his family background, Bachenheimer registered aged 18 years old as an arts student at the Los Angeles City College.

After the Attack on Pearl Harbour, he volunteer into the military service (13 December 1941), by May 1942 he was allocated to the 504th after successfully obtaining his parachuting certificate. In August 1942, he was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina together with the 504th parachute infantry regiment which was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. On 23 March 1943, he married Ethel ‘’Lou’’Murfield whom he called Penny from Fullerton, California who at the time was working for Douglas Aircraft Company as a Timekeeper.

Bachenheimer took part in Operation Husky, fought in the battles for Salerno and Anzio, his bravery behind enemy lines made him a legend in the 82nd Airborne Division, earning him the nickname of ‘’The legendary paratrooper’’. From 1942 to 1944, Bachenheimer was the subject of articles in newspapers such as Star and Stripes, Collier’s Weekly and the Los Angeles Times, some of his exploits were broadcast in radio dispatches. In action during Operation Market Garden, he landed near Grave, the Netherlands, on 17 September 1944, he organized the Dutch underground and was recommended for a field commission, he went to become the leader (with the underground rank of Major ) of the local Dutch resistance group in Nijmegen, where he gained the name of The G.I General, his army was known as The Free Netherland army. For his heroic actions in Nijmegen, Bachenheimer was recommended for a battlefield commission and was directed to report to division for an interview by a board of officers, on his way to his interview he pick up an helmet with a first lieutenant’s bar on it instead of his own helmet, he was sent back for reconsideration. On the night of 11–12 October, he accompanied British officer Captain Baker across the Waal river at Tiel to contact the Ebbens family, the mission was to deploy operation Windmill on site (The Ebbens’s family farm), bringing back British Paratroopers hidden by Dutch resistance in the Arnhem area safely into Allied Lines.But both men disobeyed a written order from Major Airey Neave to remain in military uniform and not leave the safe house in daylight.They went for a walk in plain clothes and were spotted by German troops passing nearby.

On the night of 16 October, the Ebbens’s farm was raided by SS troops, during their search, the Germans found a stock of arms and some papers, Bachenheimer and Baker were questioned during a full day, they managed to establish a false identity and said they were cut off from their units and had lost their way in a No man's land between the Waal and the Rhine, Bachenheimer and Baker  were deported by train as Prisoner of War to Stalag XI-B, Fallingbostel, (when news that both men had been arrested, the "Windmill line" was abandoned, the other escape route via "Renkum" codenamed Operation Pegasus went ahead as schedule ). During the transport, the two men were put into different Boxcars, Bachenheimer and Baker, gave each other messages for friends hoping one day to meet again in Los Angeles, Maybe we can do business together, we could start a californian branch of your firm and call it The Musketeers said Bachenheimer to Baker and for the Ebbens, they were executed in retaliation for Terrorism activity. Bachenheimer managed to escape with three other British soldiers, on 22 October, he was recaptured for the last time by the Germans near the village of 't Harde, his body was recovered the next day with two gunshot wounds, a memorial monument marks the spot where he was shot dead.

Bachenheimer's body was later reburied in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.

Military decorations
On 14 June 1944, Bachenheimer was awarded the silver star for gallantry in action demonstrated during the fighting for Anzio and on 7 January 1952 (by Royal Decree n° 24, signed by her HRH Queen Juliana of the Netherlands), the Bronze cross for distinguish and brave conduct against the enemy.

In other media
Bachenheimer featured in the Real Life comics issue n°25, published 1 sept 1945 as the character of the G.I. General.