Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

October 30th, 1917

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

March 29th, 1919

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

January 31st, 1921

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

October 23rd, 1935

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

1937

with swords

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

1937

with swords

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

November 30th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 31st, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 31st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst im Generalstab (Colonel to the General Staff)

Unit:

Chef des Generalstabes, LIII. Armeekorps, Heer

Awarded on:

August 16th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 47. Volksgrenadier-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1945

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

“Generalleutnant Bork, commander of the 47. Volksgrenadier-Division, has shown himself to be both a masterful divisional commander and an extraordinarily brave champion for his men during the most recent heavy combat.

On the 18.03.1945 he received orders to assemble his Division in the area northwest of Bergzabern (at this time it was in the Hagenau area and in the process of retreating to the Westwall). From here it was to subsequently be carried on trucks to the area north of Alzey in order to build up a blocking front against enemy forces that were thrusting forward near Kreuznach and in the direction of Worms. The divisional commander rushed ahead of his Division, and on the 19.03.1945 he personally set up a security line from the Rhine river to the hills north of Albig with the vanguard of his Division (the I./Gr.Rgt. 115) and a handful of subordinated alarm units.

Here he and his men intercepted the attack of the 4th American Armored Division and the 90th American Infantry Division. Thanks to his brave and flexible leadership in the foremost line, the divisional commander and his weak available forces were able to contain the enemy attack and prevent their breaking through into the rear of 1. Armee (which was in the process of retreating from the mountains).

On the 20.03.1945 the enemy broke through the sector of the left neighbouring Division, thrust in the direction of Worms from the west and ultimately entered the city itself. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the divisional commander made a decision on his own initiative. He knew that the uncommitted elements of his Division were still in the process of being transported somewhere near Deidesheim (north of Dannstadt), and he used this force to set up a new security line astride the Weinstraße, specifically along the line Ludwigshafen Süd—Mutterstadt—Neustadt. At the same time he also gave the officers of his divisional staff orders to break out southwards with the Division’s main body at 18:00 on the 20.03.1945. Fighting through the city of Worms (which was mostly occupied by the enemy), this breakout was completed by the early hours of the 21.03.1945 thanks to the ruthless devotion to duty displayed by both the divisional commander and his officers.

This defensive buildup by the Division within a few night hours was particularly well supported by the still operational Artillerie-Abteilungen, which were able to carry out their tasks with only makeshift command and communications equipment. Such an achievement was absolutely necessary for the continued stable security of 1. Armee’s north flank.

The personal intervention of the divisional commander at the hotspots of the individual Kampfgruppen was enough to repeatedly halt the strong enemy tank-supported attacks. During the mobile combat along the future lines

a. Rehhütte—Schifferstadt—Iggelheim
b. Speyer Nord—Hanhofen—Schwegenheim
c. Speyer Nord—Berghausen—Heiligenstein—Mechtersheim

the enemy was repeatedly prevented from achieving a breakthrough, brought to a halt and forced to regroup. This only changed after the enemy finally threatened to splinter our own weak forces during an attack against Speyer from the Neustadt—Edenkoben area. Even then however the Division managed to pull back to the eastern bank of the Rhine river as commanded, doing so in a totally orderly fashion and without losses in materiel.

The initiative and soldierly example of the divisional commander brought about an operational success. Over the course of several days of fighting he succeeded in preventing a breakthrough along the Rhine’s western bank and into the rear of 1. Armee. This in turn enabled the Division to stand completely ready for defense on the eastern bank of the Rhine (specifically in the Speyer Nord—Philippsburg sector) in the aftermath of the crossing.

This defensive achievement (solely attributable to the divisional commander’s personal bravery and decisiveness) also shows itself in the materiel successes. In this time the Division was credited with destroying 26 tanks as well as large numbers of armoured vehicles and infantry-laden trucks. Most of these were knocked out by the Division’s Artillerie and Panzerjäger-Abteilung.”

Max Bork's nomination by his unit was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 13-4-1945 via the Reichsführer-SS. Major Joachim Domaschk requested the explanatory statement from the Commander-in-Chief of AOK 1 via teleprinter message on 14-4-1945. He renewed his request on 5-5-1945. Domasck noted this in the book of "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses). In parallel the HPA received a second nomination by his unit, approved by all intermittent commanding officers, on 28-4-1945. This nomination apparently never made it to Major Domaschk. Both nominations by his unit fail to indicate further evidence that the nomination was processed or approved. The presentation date is an assumption of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR). Bork was a member of the OdR.