Georg Bochmann Georg Bochmann , ( 18 September 1913 – 8 June 1973 ) was an SS - Oberführer of the Waffen - SS . He was also a recipient of the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords . He served in the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich , the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf , the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen , the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen and the 18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel . Early career . Georg Bochmann was born in Albernau , in the Erzgebirge region of Saxony on the border with Bohemia . His family were textile workers of modest means . He studied at the University of Leipzig . After joining the Hitler Youth , Bochmann joined the Nazi party in 1933 ( Membership Number : 1907565 ) and the SS Totenkopf the following year ( Membership Number : 122362 ) , working at the Dachau concentration camp for political prisoners . In 1936 he was promoted SS Untersturmführer ( Second Lieutenant ) , and appointed to the " SS - Totenkopf Standarte " Oberbayern " " . World War II . In November 1939 he was appointed SS Obersturmführer ( First Lieutenant ) and " was a prime mover in the creation and outfitting of the SS Totenkopf Division , 1939 - 1940 . " In 1940 he assumed command of an armoured unit within the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf and during the French campaign the Division fought at Cambrai , Arras , Dunkirk , and participated in deep thrusts into southwestern France . For his successes Bochmann received the Iron Cross , second class . A little later he was promoted to SS Hauptsturmführer ( Captain ) . The 3rd SS Division Totenkopf remained in France until April 1941 when it was transferred east to prepare for Operation Barbarossa . On the eastern front the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf fought as part of the German " Army Group " North " " . Bochmann fought in the Baltic to Leningrad ( now St . Petersburg ) and was cited for his performances at Kaunas and Dünaburg ( now Daugavpils ) in Latvia . In July 1941 Bochmann received the Iron Cross , first class , and in August 1941 the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf reached Ilmen lake . In January 1942 3rd SS Division Totenkopf was formally transferred to the German " Second Army Corps " and during the Soviet winter offensive there was a particularly savage battle at Demyansk . Nearly 100 , 000 German soldiers were surrounded for three months and were mostly supplied by Luftwaffe air drops . For his exceptional merit , tenacity and leadership , Bochmann was awarded the Knight ' s Cross . A little after that he received the famous Demyansk Shield . On 2 April 1942 Bochmann was promoted to SS Sturmbannführer ( Major ) . On 21 October 1942 Bochmann was appointed commander of the 2nd Motorised Battalion of the Regiment " Thule " ( within the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf ) . In late October the entire division was withdrawn from the eastern front and sent to France for rest and recuperation . After returning to the eastern front , Bochmann assumed command of the 3rd Motorised Battalion and participated in the battles for Kharkov , Sorokovka and Tetlega . For his valiant successes in these struggles he was awarded on 17 May 1943 with the Oak Leaves to Knight ' s Cross . He was the 246th recipient and was awarded by Hitler in person . Later Bochmann was appointed to command a tank regiment in the division and on 9 November 1943 he was promoted SS - Obersturmbannführer ( Lieutenant Colonel ) . Following fresh injuries he was withdrawn from the front and sent home . In Germany he was appointed head of SS Officer ' s School for Administration in Arolsen , Hesse . On 9 November 1944 he was promoted to SS - Standartenführer and transferred to 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich . However after only a few weeks he was hastily transferred to command the 9th SS armored regiment in the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen on 20 November . Bochmann actually only returned to combat on 2 January 1945 when he was appointed commander of the 18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel . After a brief stint fighting in the west , the division was moved to the eastern front , where it was decimated and quickly surrounded by the Red Army in Oberglogau , Silesia . Although wounded , Bochmann led a successful breakthrough and was awarded the Swords to the Knights Cross ( becoming the 140th recipient ) , Oak Leaves and the prestigious Wound Badge in Gold . Also he was promoted to SS - Oberführer on 20 April 1945 . With only a few weeks of war left Bochmann was appointed commander of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen . After retreating through Bavaria he refused suicidal orders from Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner to attack Allied troops , was dismissed from his post and plans were started to court martial him . On 9 May 1945 Georg Bochmann surrendered to United States troops in the Rottach - Egern region . Post war . Georg Bochmann died after an illness on 8 June 1973 in Offenbach am Main , aged 59 . SS career . 1934 - " SS Mann " 1936 - " SS Untersturmführer " November 1939 - " SS Obersturmführer " 1940 - " SS Hauptsturmführer " 20 April 1942 - " SS Sturmbannführer " 9 November 1943 - " SS Obersturmbannführer " 9 November 1944 - " SS Standartenführer " 20 April 1945 - " SS Oberführer " < / div >