Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Rank Hauptsturmfuhrer | Years of service 1934–45 Name Walter Seebach Service/branch Waffen-SS | |
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross I Class
Iron Cross II Class
Close Combat Clasp in Gold
Wound Badge in Gold
Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze
Eastern Front Medal Died July 4, 2004, Essen, Germany Unit 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking, 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division Nordland | ||
Walter Seebach (5 November 1918 – 4 July 2004) was a soldier, a Hauptsturmfuhrer (Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Nazi Germany. He was also one of only 631 men awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold.
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Early life
Walter Seebach was born on 5 November 1918, in Heerlen Netherlands, but both his parents were German. They moved back to Germany and after Seebach graduated from school aged sixteen he joined the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) in March 1933. He completed his compulsory labour service between November 1938 to March 1939 and then volunteered to join the Allgemeine-SS in April 1937 and the Waffen-SS in April 1939 and was assigned to the 6th Company, SS Regiment Germania.
World War II
In November 1939, Seebach was selected to become an officer and sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tolz and then on to the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig in April 1940. He was promoted to Untersturmfuhrer (Second Lieutenant) in November 1941 and posted to the 9th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Germania, 5th SS Division Wiking. In February 1942, he was made the adjutant of the II. Battalion and given command of the 2nd Company in December 1942.
In May 1943, he was transferred to the 24th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Danemark as the adjutant. He was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions around 31 January 1944, as the commander of the 5th Company, 24th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Danemark (11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland).
Sent to hospital to recover from his wounds, he was given command of the SS Reconnaissance Training and Reserve Battalion between April and June 1944, and command of the SS Panzergrenadier Training and Reserve Regiment until November 1944. He ended the war as the regimental adjutant of the 9th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Germania. (5th SS Panzer Division Wiking)