Josef Bachmeier

Josef Bachmeier
Born	27 October 1908 Dingolfing, Germany
Died	4 February 1971 (aged 62) Sarstedt, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1935–45
Rank	Hauptsturmführer
Unit	SS-Totenkopfverbände SS Division Totenkopf 6th SS Gebirgs Division Nord 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class

Josef Bachmeier (27 October 1908 — 4 February 1971) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Josef Bachmeier born on the 27 October 1908 in Dingolfing. After finishing elementary school he joined the 19th Bavarian Infantry Regiment in April 1929 and later volunteered to join the SS-Totenkopfverbände in June 1935 and was assigned to the SS Totenkopf Ostfriesland. He later served with the SS Totenkopf Brandenburg (1936) being selected to become an officer and promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in November 1936 and was then transferred to the SS Totenkopf Oberbayern (1937) being promoted to Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) in September. His next posting as the SS Totenkopf Ostmark and the SS Totenkopf Kirkenes in 1940.

World War II

In World War II Bach was posted to the 4th SS Infantry Regiment in 1941 and in September promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain). Here he remained until 1943, when he was transferred to the SS Training and Reserve Battalion Nord, 6th SS Gebirgs Division Nord In 1944 he was moved again this time to the 4th Company, Begleitkommando-SS, Reichsführers SS.

He was again moved in 1944, to command the II. Battalion, 23 Panzergrenadier Regiment Norge, 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in August 1944, when in command at the Mountain Pine position on the Eastern Front. When he launched an attack with three company's and forced the Russian forces to retreat.

Post war

Josef Bachmeier survived the war and died on the 4 February 1971 in Sarstedt near Hanover.

References

Further reading

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
• Fey, Will; Henschler, Henri (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.
• The Combat History of the 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg. available online