Cased Presentation SS Letter Opener and Knight’s Cross (23054)

Description Georg was born on 18 September 1913 in Albernau, Saxony and joined the SS-Totenkopf Units in 1934.  In 1936 he was promoted to SS-Untersturmfuhrer and served with the SS-Totenkopf-Standarte “Oberbayen”.  In 1939/40 he was instrumental in the creation and outfitting of the SS-Totenkopf Division.  In the winter of 1941/42 he participated in the offensive in Russia, and on 3 May 1942 was awarded the Knight’s Cross as SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer and Commander of Battle Group “Bochmann” serving with the SS-Totenkopf Division in Russia.  He was awarded the Oak Leaves on 17 May 1943 as SS-Sturmbahnfuhrer and Commander of Motorcycle Regiment “Thule”, SS-Panzer-Grenadier Division “Totenkopf”.  On 26 March 1945 SS-Standartenfuhrer Bochmann was awarded the Swords while serving as Commander of 18.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Horst Wessel” on the Eastern Front.  Herr Bochmann survived the war and lived in Offenbach/Main until his death on 8 June 1973.  This letter opener was presented to Georg Bochmann.  It measures 9 3/4″ in length and features a machined brass V-shaped pommel with straight brass crossguards with scalloped ends showing light surface wear/age patina and some surface spotting to fittings.  Obverse crossguard is jeweler engraved, “Georg Bochmann”, reverse crossguard is jeweler engraved, “XVII.  SS Pz. Gren. Div. Horst Wessel”.  The grip is constructed of smooth off-white celluloid showing several small chips and some aging.  Straight polished steel center-ridge stiletto type blade measuring 6″ in length grades excellent showing surface wear and some gray shadowing and spotting primarily to obverse tip.  Exc /Exc