Seela, Max (Waffen SS)
- Date of birth:
- July 15th, 1911 (Schöneiche, Germany)
- Date of death:
- July 31st, 1999 (Ratingen, Germany)
- Service number:
- SS Nr.: 257.323 // NSDAP-Nr.: 147.126
- Nationality:
- German (1933-1945, Third Reich)
Biography
00.00.1929: entered the Reichswehr
01.08.1929: joined the NSDAP
00.00.1935: transferred to the SS-VT
00.09.1935: served in the SS-Pionier-Bataillon
00.10.1939: SS-Ostuf, Kompaniechef, 3. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Pionier-Bataillon
01.07.1942-00.01.1944: Kdr, SS-Totenkopf-Pionier-Bataillon
00.01.1944: WIA
Kdr, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 1 - Dresden
01.04.1944: Pionierführer, Stab, II. SS-Panzer-Korps
00.02.1945: Kdr, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 19, 9. SS-Panzer-Division 'Hohenstaufen'
08.05.1945: surrendered to the US forces
Promotions:
26.03.1935: SS-Untersturmführer
20.04.1936: SS-Obersturmführer
30.01.1940: SS-Hauptsturmführer
01.09.1942: SS-Sturmbannführer - RDA 01.09.1941
00.00.1943: SS-Obersturmbannführer
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Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer
- Awarded on:
- February 1934
- Awarded on:
- December 16th, 1935
- Awarded on:
- December 1st, 1936
- Awarded on:
- December 1st, 1936
- Awarded on:
- December 1st, 1937
- Awarded on:
- December 1st, 1938
- Awarded on:
- 1939
- Awarded on:
- 1939
- Awarded on:
- 1939
- Awarded on:
- 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
- Awarded on:
- May 31st, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
- Awarded on:
- June 22nd, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
- Awarded on:
- 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
- Awarded on:
- 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
- Awarded on:
- December 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
- Unit:
- Chef, 3. Kompanie, Pionier-Bataillon 3 "Totenkopf", SS-Totenkopf-Division
- Awarded on:
- December 26th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
- Unit:
- Chef, 3. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Totenkopf”, II. Armee-Korps, 16. Armee 16, Heeresgruppe Nord
- Awarded on:
- May 3rd, 1942
"SS-Hauptsturmführer Seela returned to his unit (located at Staraya Russa) following convalescence in January. He assembled a Kompanie around Lipowitzy, southeast of Staraya Russa.
After the breakthrough of the Russians over the Lowat River in the fighting at the end of January SS-Hauptsturmführer Seela, as part of Kampfgruppe Ullrich, defended the village of Korowtschina on the 24th of February.
With the heaviest tanks, violent artillery and numerous aircraft the Russians launched uninterrupted attacks and succeeded in gaining the southern part of the village. However SS-Hauptsturmführer Seela in heroic and courageous fighting prevented them from taking the village in its whole, and in turn he succeeded in taking the bridge over the Lowat.
In spite of the stronger enemy and only partial successful provision from the air by the Luftwaffe, Seela again and again led his exhausted men and threw the Russians (although they surrounded him on three sides) out and forced them to retreat.
When on the 24th of February 1942 the command for the Kampfgruppe to retreat came through, Seela (although injured) made it back to the new positions.
I ask that SS-Hauptsturmführer Seela, in recognition of his heroic and courageous performance, be awarded the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross."
based on a recommendation dated 01.03.1942 and signed by Div. Kdr. Theodor Eicke
Sources
- Photo 1: Willi Schumacher
- Photo 2:
- Photo 3:
- Photo: Willi Schmacher collections
- - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Pub Ltd, 2008.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- SCHERZER, V., Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945, Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag, Jena, 2005.
- Axis Biographical Research
- Vorschlagsliste RK
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