Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Awarded on:

June 20th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1

Awarded on:

August 23rd, 1941

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1

Awarded on:

November 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1

Awarded on:

October 30th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 11. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment "Totenkopf"

Awarded on:

September 8th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1

Awarded on:

September 9th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1

Awarded on:

October 9th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1

Awarded on:

December 7th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1

Awarded on:

December 31st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 "Totenkopf", 3. SS-Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

February 28th, 1945

Bachmann’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 01.01.1945 the Division launched an attack along the Danube river east of Komarom. Kampfgruppe Kühn, consisting of the reinforced SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 5 ‘Totenkopf’, constituted the right advancing group of the Division. At 19:30 it moved out of its assembly area northeast of Naszaly and began an attack against enemy forces that were dug-in amongst the high ground south and southeast of Dunaalmas. At the same time the Division’s left advancing group, Kampfgruppe Kleffner, conducted an advance along the Danube river towards Dunaalmas itself.

Among the units subordinated to Kampfgruppe Kühn was the II./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 5 ‘Totenkopf’, commanded by SS-Hauptsturmführer Bachmann. The entire Bataillon had to wade through the 1 metre deep Tatai-Foloy river under heavy enemy defensive fire and in temperatures of -15 degrees. However after this they managed to break through the heavily-manned enemy position east of Füzitö-psz. in bitter close combat. After penetrating into the foremost enemy position, a further two enemy positions on the slopes of the hills to the southeast of Dunaalmas were taken with cries of Hurra. In this attack SS-Hauptsturmführer Bachmann showed the highest personal bravery while leading his Bataillon from the front during both the crossing of the Tatai-Foloy river and the storming of the hostile positions. Despite the exhausted state of his men, as well as significant friendly losses, SS-Hauptsturmführer Bachmann was able to storm a pair of hills (both named Hill 282) located to the north and south of Adam-mjr. The bitter enemy resistance was overcome and the hills taken under friendly control.

In the meantime the Division’s left advance group (Kampfgruppe Kleffner) had been halted by the strong enemy defenses on the western edge fo Dunaalmas and a strong enemy tank/anti-tank gun blocking position. A combination of hostile armour, anti-tank guns and a destroyed bridge in the western part of Dunaalmas held up our friendly armoured thrust for several hours and necessitated the employment of additional Grenadier-Kompanien to help breach the barrier. Those friendly infantry that were already engaged in the western part of Dunaalmas for this purpose were unable to make any headway against the strong enemy resistance. Kampfgruppe Kleffner was thus pinned down before Dunaalmas.

In this situation SS-Hauptsturmführer learned of the state of the left neighbour through a patrol that had been sent to make contact. Thus, after the capture of the two Hills 282, he made the independent decision to thrust north and strike into the rear of the enemy positions in the western part of Dunaalmas. By doing so he intended to set the stage for the left neighbour to finally achieve a penetration. After hastily reorganizing his Bataillon, SS-Hauptsturmführer Bachmann took a Kompanie and thrust northwards towards the Dunaalmas church. Despite bitter resistance he managed to break through the enemy positions located at the southern edge of Dunaalmas and atop the hills to the south of the city. By doing so he not only eased up the situation for the only slowly advancing infantry of Kampfgruppe Kleffner, he also laid the groundwork for the Kampfgruppe’s subordinated armoured group to once again resume its armoured thrust.

The importance of SS-Hauptsturmführer Bachmann’s independently executed thrust with a Kompanie into the rear and flank of the enemy forces in the western part of Dunaalmas cannot be overstated. It proved to be the key that unlocked the defense of the enemy’s cornerstone along the Danube river, a feat which in turn enabled the Division to move along with its operations.

SS-Hauptsturmführer Bachmann and his Bataillon simultaneously captured large quantities of weapons and equipment while also inflicting bloody losses on the enemy in close combat.

SS-Hauptsturmführer Bachmann has been a highly regarded Kompanie and Bataillon commander throughout all the operations of the Division. He has already been considered for the award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross on several occasions due to his extraordinary personal bravery, absolute steadfastness and exemplary decisiveness.

I ask that this highly distinguished SS officer be awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)