Date of birth:

August 20th, 1914 (Meiningen/Thuringia, Germany)

Date of death:

December 28th, 1988 (Wendlingen, Oyten/Lowesaxony, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 97.799 // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

00.10.1934: joined the SS in a SS-Totenkopfverband
00.00.1935-00.00.1936: SS-Junker, SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
00.00.1936: promoted to SS-Standartenoberjunker
00.00.1936: SS-Standartenoberjunker, Zugführer, SS-Standarte „Germania"
00.00.1936: Zugführerlehrgang, Dachau
20.04.1936: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer
01.05.1937: Leutnant der Schutzpolizei, Schutzpolizei Braunschweig
09.11.1938: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer und Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei
00.00.1939: SS-Ostuf, Chef, Schützenkompanie, SS-Polizei-Division
00.05.1940: SS-Ostuf, Chef, Schützenkompanie, SS-Polizei-Division - campaign in the West
00.06.1941: SS-Ostuf, Chef, Schützenkompanie, SS-Polizei-Division - campaign in Russia
01.04.1942: SS-Ostuf, Chef, 13. (IG) Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment „Deutschland", SS-Division „Das Reich"
09.11.1942: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer
00.02.1943: SS-Hstuf, Adjutant, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment „Deutschland", 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich' - Kharkov
00.00.1943: SS-Hstuf, severely WIA and evacuated to a Lazarett in Germany
10.03.1944: SS-Hstuf, Adjutant, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 38, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen"
00.06.1944: SS-Hstuf, campaign in Normandie, France
08.07.1944-09.07.1944: SS-Hstuf, Führer, Kampfgruppe 'Wahl', SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 38, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Götz von Berlichingen' - Carentan-Periers, sector of St. André de Bohon, Le Moulin
11.07.1944: fightings at le Port and Saint André de Bohon
21.07.1944: proposed for the RK by SS-Standartenführer Otto Baum
23.08.1944: SS-Hstuf, awarded the RK
00.08.1944: fightins along the Seine River
28.09.1944: SS-Hstuf, Kommandeur, SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 17, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen" - campaing in the Saar region
09.11.1944: promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer
03.01.1945: fightings at Groß Rederching, Aachen
06.01.1945: fightings at Hof Brandelfingerhof
07.01.1945-08.01.1945: fightings at Rimlingen
10.01.1945: SS-Stubaf, WIA sevely burned to the face by a flame-thrower but stayed with his troops
01.02.1945: SS-Stubaf, awarded the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and evacuated to a Lazarett for treatment of the severe burns sustained at Rimlingen
00.03.1945: handed over to Dr. Goebbels at Berlin the 1,3 Millionen Reichsmark previously collected among the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Götz von Berlichingen' to help the Eastern refugees
25.04.1945: SS-Stubaf, Führer, SS-Regiment „Anhalt" renamed SS-Regiment 'Wahl', „Kampfgruppe Mohnke", Reichshauptstadt Berlin
30.04.1945: SS-Stubaf, fightings in the sector of the Reichstag building
00.05.1945: captured by the Soviet troops - Soviet POW

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, Schützenkompanie, SS-Polizei-Division

Awarded on:

September 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, Schützenkompanie, SS-Polizei-Division

Awarded on:

November 14th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, Schützenkompanie, SS-Polizei-Division

Awarded on:

April 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 13. (IG) Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment „Deutschland", SS-Division „Das Reich"

Awarded on:

August 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Adjutant, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Deutschland', 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Das Reich'

Awarded on:

March 1st, 1943

for having destroyed a soviet tank in 02.1943 at Kharkov

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Adjutant, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment „Deutschland", 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division „Das Reich"

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, Kampfgruppe, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 38, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

August 23rd, 1944

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

“SS-Hauptsturmführer Wahl (regimental adjutant of the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 38) took over command of a Kampfgruppe after regimental and two Bataillon commanders had become casualties. In this capacity he would be the soul of resistance during the harsh defensive fighting along the Carentan—Periers road in the sector St. André de Bohon, le Moulin.

Although heavy losses in officers and NCOs were sustained during this time, Wahl was repeatedly able to reorganize the defenses in his sector and inflict heavy losses on the enemy in the process (he particularly distinguished himself in this capacity on the 08. & 09.07.1944).

At 13:00 on the 11.07.1944 the enemy launched a combined-arms assault against the sector of Kampfgruppe Wahl following a powerful artillery barrage. This attack achieved a penetration, and those elements of the Kampfgruppe positioned near le Port and St. André de Bohon were temporarily cut off. In response SS-Hauptsturmführer Wahl launched an immediate counterattack with a handful of men. He sealed off the first penetration, and with just 4 men at hand he fought through the enemy’s spearhead and managed to reestablish contact with the friendly infantry and armoured elements that were fighting in the St. André de Bohon sector. Wahl then ordered these units to also initiate a counterthrust, and after a fierce battle the old frontline was restored.

The elimination of this enemy penetration with only weak friendly forces is a success attributable to the personal initiative and bravery of SS-Hauptsturmführer Wahl. I therefore hold him as worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Awarded on:

September 1944

in Bronze

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Adjutant, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Götz von Berlichingen'

Awarded on:

October 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

Kommandeur, SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 17, 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

February 1st, 1945

Wahl’s Oakleaves’ recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 03.01.1945 SS-Sturmbannführer Wahl was ordered to take his Aufklärungs-Abteilung as well as a subordinated Kompanie of SS-Pz.Jg.Abt. 17 (11 Sturmgeschütze) and break through to Achen via Gros-Rederching in order to relieve those friendly elements that had been encircled there (namely SS-Pz.Abt. 17 and SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 38). He thus launched a swift attack that skillfully utilized the terrain, and in this manner he first managed to thrust through the enemy encirclement ring around Gros Rederching. 5 Sherman tanks were destroyed in the process.

He then entered into the village at the head of his men, and in the fighting which followed the village was cleared of the enemy and contact was restored with the encircled friendly elements located there. Then, without hesitation, he immediately continued the attack in the direction of Achen and linked up with the garrison of the village (which had itself broken out of the village in the meantime).

On the 06.01.1945 an enemy force of 1 battalion and about 30 tanks penetrated into our frontline near Brandelfingerhoff-Ferme. At the time the reinforced SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 17 was positioned behind the frontline as a reserve, and its commander [Wahl] immediately ordered it to launch a counterthrust. This counterthrust ejected the enemy from Brandelfingerhoff-Ferme and pushed them back beyond the high ground located to the west. In the process 3 enemy tanks and 1 anti-tank gun (7.5 cm) were destroyed. 2 officers and 43 men were also taken prisoner. With this the enemy counterattacks at this position were definitively brought to an end.

Later, on the night of the 07./08.01.1945, SS-Sturmbannführer Wahl led a Kampfgruppe in an attack against the village of Rimling. In the bitter urban combat which followed he and his troops were able to secure half of the village. He then made the independent decision to push friendly forces that were screening his flank and rear far to the south until they made contact with the enemy.

SS-Sturmbannführer Wahl was the soul of the battle in Rimling. He remained fearless and brave, and by keeping up good spirits himself he inspired his troops to do likewise.

On the third night of the battle for Rimling SS-Sturmbannführer Wahl was wounded in his basement by an enemy flamethrower jet. However the attack that he had initiated nonetheless led to a total occupation of the village.

In this fighting he and his troops captured 109 prisoners (including 7 officers) and destroyed 1 tank and 2 anti-tank guns.”

720th Award.

• Photo 1: Igor Poul
• Photo: http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rkel/w/EL720Wahl.pdf
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - axishistory.com
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives