Date of birth:

November 18th, 1905 (Sellnow-Kolberg/Pommerania, Germany)

Date of death:

July 1944

Nationality:

German

Herbert Laabs was born November 18th, 1905 in Sellnow, Hinterpommern. He joined the Reichswehr on February 1st , 1924. Subsequently he served in the army for 12 years and attended the Heeresfachschule. He was promoted to Oberfeldwebel on April 1st, 1933 and served with 4.Infanterie Regiment in Kolberg.
He married Charlotte Lewerenz in Kolberg on July 31st , with whom he was to have two daughters and a son. Following his military career, Herbert Laabs became Stadtinspektor in Stettin.
September 1st , 1939, he rejoined the army, this time in 478.Infanterie Regiment. With this unit he took part in the war against Poland, on the Maginotline between June 13th and 16th 1940 and in the Vosges between June 17th and 24th. Following this period he was posted as Kompaniechef in the rank of Oberleutnant. From June 22nd , 1941 onwards, he took part in the campaign against the Soviet Union and was gravely wounded.
After his stay in hospital, he was posted to the Führer Reserve in the Infanterie-ersatz-Bataillon 478. Herbert Laabs went back voluntarily to the Eastern Front in March 1943. Here he was promoted to Hauptmann, Bataillonsführer in the 383.Infanterie-Division / XXXV.Armeekorps / Armygroup Central. July 1944 he was reported as missing in action.

Promotions:
1st September 1940: Oberleutnant der Reserve (R.D.A.);
9th December 1942: Hauptmann der Reserve (R.D.A. 1st October 1942).

Career:
1st September 1939 - 1st September 1940: Zugführer 9. / Infanterie-Regiment 478;
2nd September 1940 - 17th July 1942: Kompaniechef 9. / Infanterie-Regiment 478;
17th July 1942: Kompaniechef Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 478;
?: Kompaniechef Infanterie-Ausbildungs-Bataillon 478.

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• Photo 1: Familie
• Photo: Family
  
• - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
  - Personalakte des Heeres