Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef 1. / Infanterie-Regiment 29 / 3.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

September 29th, 1941

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

“On the 20. and 21.08.1941 the 3. Infanterie-Division (mot) had the mission of attacking from west to east and reaching the Polisst river at a point about 20 km south of Staraya Russa. At 09:00 on the 21.08.1941 the spearhead of the Infanterie-Regiment 29 (mot), namely the 1. Kompanie under the command of Oberleutnant Borchert, reached the Polisst river opposite Borodino. Oberleutnant Borchert decided not to halt at the river but instead carry on with the attack and establish a bridgehead. The forcing of the eastern bank of the Polisst had far-reaching implications for the future battles of the Division. It enabled it to cross the Polisst river on the same day without a fight and thrust through to the major road Staraya—Rusza—Cholm. From here it was able to intercept and capture the enemy forces that were fleeing from the west and towards the north.”

According to the divisional history of the 3. Panzergrenadier-Division, a Soviet battery was trying to cross a bridge over the Polisst river when Oberleutnant Borchert’s reinforced Kompanie arrived. However a traffic jam on the bridge gave Borchert the opportunity to capture this battery and simultaneously form a bridgehead over the river. He and his men also captured the village of Borodino itself during this action.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)