Date of birth:

December 5th, 1910 (Wendhausen-Lüneburg/Hannover, Germany)

Date of death:

August 31st, 1974 (Berlin)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 257.879 // NSDAP-Nr.: 3.601.330

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

SS-Sturmbannführer der Waffen-SS Hermann Karl Heinrich Borchers was the brother of RKT Major Adolf Borchers (o10.02.1913) Staffelkapitän of 11.Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" and of RKT Major Walter Borchers (o22.01.1916) KIA 05.03.1945 as Kommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5

Promotions:
25.08.1934: SS-Anwärter
25.08.1934: SS-Rottenführer
01.04.1936: SS-Junker
01.10.1936: SS-Standartenjunker
16.02.1937: SS-Standartenoberjunker
01.05.1937: Leutnant der Schutzpolizei
20.04.1937: SS-Untersturmführer
09.11.1938: SS-Obersturmführer und Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei
30.01.1940: SS-Hauptsturmführer
09.11.1944: SS-Sturmbannführer der Waffen-SS

Career:
01.11.1928: joined the SA
00.08.1934: joined the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, SS-VT
00.03.1935: joined the NSDAP
00.06.1936: SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig
00.05.1937: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer, Stab, Reichsführer-SS
00.00.1938: Leutnant der Schutzpolizei, Schutzpolizei in Lübeck
00.05.1938: Police School at Berlin Köpenick
00.02.1941: Kdr, Kompanie, SS-Polizei-Regiment 26, Norway
00.08.1942: SS-Radfahr-Ersatz-Bataillon
00.02.1943: Kdr, 1. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 19, 9. SS-Panzer-Division 'Hohenstaufen'
00.07.1944: Kdr, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 19, 9. SS-Panzer-Division 'Hohenstaufen' - River Orne, St Martin, Normandy

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Awarded on:

February 1934

Awarded on:

1937

Awarded on:

1937

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 3rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 28th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 17th, 1944

in Bronze

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 8th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 19, 9. SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen", II. SS-Panzer-Korps, Heeresgruppe B

Awarded on:

October 16th, 1944

Borchers’ Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“The Regiment’s battle plan envisioned the capture of the 1st attack objective (May sur Orne) with the I. Bataillon being positioned forward on the left and the II. and III. Bataillon being staggered towards the rear on the right. From there the attack would be carried on to St. Martin, wherein the I. and II. Bataillon would be in the forward echelon with the III. Bataillon staggered to the right. Enemy artillery blocking fire and air attacks during the approach march and the battle itself meant that the initial attacks by II. and III. Bataillon did not come to fruition.

I. Bataillon, on the other hand, managed to boldly recapture May sur Orne. After this the commander of the Bataillon, SS-Hauptsturmführer Borchers, made the bold and independent decision to immediately press on with the attack without waiting for II. Bataillon to catch up. Although his right and left flanks were now fully open Borchers led his Regiment through the enemy blocking fire at the head of his men. They entered into St. Martin following hard close combat and firmly established themselves there. All enemy counterthrusts (some of which had tank support) were repulsed.

The swift attainment of St. Martin and the associated creation of a secure left flank for the Regiment were decisive for the future course of the attack. This success is attributable to the personal decisiveness, exemplary bravery and purposeful leadership of the commander of I. Bataillon.”

• Photo 1:
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1992.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.