Max Seela
Encyclopedia
Max Seela was a Obersturmbannführer
(lieutenant-colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II
who was awarded 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.
near Berlin
. After leaving school in 1929 he went into the Reichswehr
(German Army) and was then transferred into the SS-VT in 1935, his SS service number was 257.323 and his NSDAP number was 147.126. In September 1935 he joined the SS Pionier Battalion.
), being awarded the Iron Cross
2nd class in May 1940 and the Iron Cross 1st class in June 1940. He took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union
(Operation Barbarossa
) and was awarded the German Cross
in Gold in December 1941.
His award of the Knight's Cross was in May 1942, while Seela as a Hauptsturmführer
(Captain) and still in command of the 3rd Company. Despite severe losses and meager supplies, his unit defended the Russian village of Korowitsch in the Demyansk Pocket
for one month. Seela and 3rd Company prevented the village being captured, denying the Soviets access to the crucial bridge over the Lowat river.
In July 1942 he was given command of the 3rd SS Pionier Battalion Totenkopf until April 1944 when he was moved to command the II SS Panzer Corps
Pioniers, then given command of the 19th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen.
On May 8, 1945, he was captured by American forces and became a Prisoner of war
.
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
(lieutenant-colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II.
Early life
Max Seela was born on July 15, 1911 at SchöneicheSchöneiche
Schöneiche is a municipality in the Oder-Spree District of Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated directly at the edge to Berlin/Köpenick.-External links:...
near Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. After leaving school in 1929 he went into the Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
(German Army) and was then transferred into the SS-VT in 1935, his SS service number was 257.323 and his NSDAP number was 147.126. In September 1935 he joined the SS Pionier Battalion.
World War II
By October 1939 he had been given command of the 3rd Company, SS Pionier Battalion Totenkopf, (3rd SS Division Totenkopf3rd SS Division Totenkopf
The SS Division Totenkopf , also known as 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf and 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf, was one of the 38 divisions fielded by the Waffen-SS during World War II. Prior to achieving division status, the formation was known as Kampfgruppe Eicke...
), being awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd class in May 1940 and the Iron Cross 1st class in June 1940. He took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
) and was awarded the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold in December 1941.
His award of the Knight's Cross was in May 1942, while Seela as a Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain) and still in command of the 3rd Company. Despite severe losses and meager supplies, his unit defended the Russian village of Korowitsch in the Demyansk Pocket
Demyansk Pocket
The Demyansk Pocket was the name given for the encirclement of German troops by the Red Army around Demyansk , south of Leningrad, during World War II on the Eastern Front. The pocket existed mainly from 8 February-21 April 1942. A much smaller pocket was simultaneously surrounded in Kholm, about ...
for one month. Seela and 3rd Company prevented the village being captured, denying the Soviets access to the crucial bridge over the Lowat river.
In July 1942 he was given command of the 3rd SS Pionier Battalion Totenkopf until April 1944 when he was moved to command the II SS Panzer Corps
II SS Panzer Corps
The II SS Panzer Corps was a Nazi German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II.- Formation - Kharkov :...
Pioniers, then given command of the 19th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen.
On May 8, 1945, he was captured by American forces and became a Prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
.