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Seebach, Walter (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
November 5th, 1921 (Heerlen, the Netherlands)
Date of death:
July 4th, 2004 (Essen, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 405.890 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

01.03.1933-01.04.1937: Hitlerjugend
02.11.1938-25.03.1939: RAD
01.04.1937: joined the SS
00.11.1938-00.03.1939: RAD
01.04.1939: joined the 6. Sturm, SS-Standarte 'Germania', SS-VT
00.09.1939: SS-Mann, 6. Sturm, SS-Standarte 'Germania', SS-VT - campaign in Poland
21.11.1939: SS-Junker, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
01.04.1940: SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
09.11.1941: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer - RDA 01.11.1941
00.11.1941: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 'Germania', 5. SS-Division (mot.) 'Wiking'
00.02.1942: SS-Ustuf, Adjutant, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 'Germania', 5. SS-Division (mot.) 'Wiking'
00.12.1942: SS-Ustuf, Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 'Germania', 5. SS-Division (mot.) 'Wiking'
20.04.1943: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
00.05.1943: SS-Ostuf, Adjutant, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 'Danmark', 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland'
00.01.1944: SS-Ostuf, Chef, 5. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 'Danmark', 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland' - Oranienbaum, Narva, Luga Bridgehead
00.01.1944: SS-Ostuf, WIA and evacuated to a Lazarett
01.04.1944: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer
01.04.1944-03.06.1944: SS-Hstuf, Führer, SS-Aufklärungs-Ausbildungs und-Ersatz-Bataillon 11
03.06.1944-27.11.1944: Führer, SS-Panzergrenadier-Ausbildungs- und-Ersatz-Regiment
27.11.1944: Führer, Lehrgang, SS-Offizierschule, SS-Junkerschule Prag
00.02.1945: SS-Hstuf, Adjutant, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 'Germania', 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'
00.05.1945: US POW

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Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen
DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 8th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
December 24th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
June 9th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 25th, 1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
March 28th, 1943
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
1943
Nahkampfspange in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Chef, 5. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 “Danmark”, 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division “Nordland”, III.(Germanische) SS-Panzer-Korps
Awarded on:
March 12th, 1944
Seebach's Knight's Cross recommendation reads as follows...

"The proposed individual - who has been employed as a regimental adjutant since 01.05.1943 and on the significant list of the regiment since 01.05.1943 - has since the early days of January taken over the 5./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 24 "Danmark". Following the heavy anti-partisan fighting in Croatia (Hrastovica), this Kompanie was unfit and no longer combat ready. Obersturmführer Seebach was supplied with forty recruits to supplement the group leaders and, in the shortest time (ten days) brought these men to a high standard, making them fresh and ensuring the unit was fully ready for employment by 15.01.1944 in the Oranienbaum Pocket.

His freshness and fighting spirit was passed along to his young Kompanie, which was clearly evident during the fighting retreat below.

On 30.1.44, Seebach led the night groups of the regiment from the position at Opolje - Kerstowo into the new positions on the Luga. Through his leadership and energy he reached 5. Kompanie, despite being continually pressed by the enemy. They reached positions around 06:00 hours on 30.01.1944 without great losses.

On 31.01.1944, at about 16:30 hours, the enemy began their attacks against the sector of 5./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 24 "Danmark" (Danish No. 1). They were led by two Russian regiments in several waves and lasted until the morning hours of 01.02.1944. Eight armed attacks were identified. The position was held until 01.02.1944.

This was thanks to the frontline leadership and excellent attitude of the brave Kompanie leader, Obersturmführer Seebach, who in bold attacks constantly threw back the enemy. At 20:30 hours, Seebach was wounded by shrapnel in the foot (his seventh wounding in this war!). Despite this wound, he continued to personally lead his Kompanie and, after detecting the enemy, led a Kompanie squad to success. When his wound became aggravated by non-treatment and the initially only slightly battered foot bones broke, it took an order from the regiment to take him back and another Kompanie leader replaced him.

This example shows the excellent bravery and strong will displayed to the Kompanie, which fought with boldness and liveliness. The remaining Kompanien of the battalion, with which Seebach fought where the fighting was thickest, recognized his strength and the defensive resistance was strengthened considerably through Seebach's example and his strong Kompanie.

This was the position until the early morning hours of February 1, and a breakthrough of the regiment's front by the enemy was avoided. This tactical success, thanks in large part to Seebach, allowed the various elements of the division to plan their withdrawal to the bridgehead in the area of Jamburg and prevented the premature rupturing of the Luga front on the 31.01.1944, which would have had a bad effect on upon the overall situation."
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

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