Date of birth:

August 5th, 1912 (Angermünde/Brandenburg, Germany)

Date of death:

April 5th, 1945 (Magdeburg/Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Heinrich Borgmann was severely injured during the asassination attempt on Hitler on 20th July 1944, known under the name Operation Valkyre, and recovered. He died on 5th April 1945 in Magdeburg hospital of his wounds inflicted during a dive bomber attack.

Career:
1932 until 1934: Gefreiter 3. / Infanterie-Regiment 5
1939: Oberleutnant, Chef 9. / Infanterie-Regiment 46

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1930

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 14th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 28th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef 9. / Infanterie-Regiment 46 / 30.Infanterie-Division / 6.Armee / Heeresgruppe B

Awarded on:

July 19th, 1940

The following wartime excerpt describes why Borgmann was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Thanks to the swift action and boldness by Oberleutnant Borgmann (commander of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 46) the Division was spared the need to conduct a deliberate attack near Weetth, and the enemy blocking fire in front of the entire IX. Armee-Korps was eliminated. On the 26. and 27.05.1940 Oberleutnant Borgmann’s III./Infanterie-Regiment 46 managed to punch its way over the Lys Canal through a much larger enemy force, and by doing so it collapsed the entire enemy position in front of the Division. This brought about the breakthrough of the Division through the Belgian VII. Armee-Korps, which in turn triggered the surrender of the Belgian Army.”

141st Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 3rd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Kommandeur III. / Infanterie-Regiment 46 / 30.Infanterie-Division / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

February 11th, 1942

Borgmann assumed command of an ad-hoc unit (Gruppe Borgmann) on the 21.01.1942, and by holding the villages of Bol. and Mal. Kalinez despite being encircled by the Soviets it was able to save the 290. Infanterie-Division from being encircled itself. Weak elements of the Gruppe under the leadership of the by now wounded Hauptmann Borgmann managed to break out later on in the battle. Borgmann would later be awarded the Oakleaves for his brave and self-sacrificial actions here.

71st Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1944

• Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
  - 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
  - Kwasny A. und G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - 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
  - das-ritterkreuz.de
  - Axis History Biographical Research via Axis History Forum