Date of birth:

October 9th, 1896 (Posen/Westernprussia, Germany)

Date of death:

July 22nd, 1944 (Thessaloniki, Greece)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 430.348 // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

German

Herbert-Ernst Vahl was born October 9th, 1896, in Posen.
In 1914 he joined 7. (Westpreussischen) Infanterie-Regiment. January 8th, 1915 he was selected for officer's training. During World War One he served on the River Somme and near Verdun. In 1916 as well as in 1917 he got injured and was awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen (Medal for the Injured) in Black and in Silver. He was also awarded the Eisernes Kreuz (Iron Cross) 2nd and 1st Class.
After the First World War he remained in the new Reichswehr, being employed as a teacher in various military schools and he served with 14.Kompanie, 16.Kavallerie-Regiment in Berlin. After the seize of power by the Nazis, he was appointed Kommandeur II./ Panzer-Regiment 4 / 2.Panzer Division.
When war broke out in September 1939 he became Oberstleutnant, Kommandeur Panzer-Bataillon 65 / 6. Panzer-Division. With this unit he participated in the campaign against Poland. As Kommandeur of Panzer-Bataillon 101 he participated in the campaigns in France, the Balkans and the invasion of the Soviet Union. From July 1941 onwards, he was in command of Panzer-Regiment 29 / 12. Panzer-Division. By order from Berlin, he transferred to the Waffen-SS on August 1st, 1942 and was given command of the SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 and in 1943 he was put in command of the SS-Division "Das Reich", participating with this unit in the campaign on the Eastern Front. At the end of 1943 he was named Inspekteur Panzertruppen / SS Führungshauptamt but he returned to the front in July 1944.
Herbert Vahl lost his life in Greece on July 22nd in an accident with a motorcycle. At the time he was Kommandeur 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division in the rank of SS-Brigadeführer / Generalmajor der Waffen-SS.

Promotions:
January 8th,1915, Leutnant;
April 1st, 1925, Oberleutnant;
February 1st, 1931, Rittmeister;
November 1st, 1936, Major;
February 1st, 1939, Oberstleutnant;
December 13th, 1941: Oberst;
August 1st, 1942: SS-Standartenführer;
February 10th, 1943: SS-Oberführer;
April 1st, 1943: SS-Brigadeführer / Generalmajor der Waffen-SS.

Career:
1914: 7. (Westpreußischen) Infanterie-Regiment;
?: Teacher Military school;
?: Chef 14. Kompanie / Reiter-Regiment 16, Berlijn;
?: Chef Kradschützen-Kompanie;
?: Kommandeur II. / Panzer-Regiment 4 / 2. Panzer-Division;
September 1939: Kommandeur Panzer-Abteilung 65 / 6. Panzer-Division;
May 1940: Kommandeur Panzer-Abteilung 101;
July 1941: Kommandeur Panzerregiment 29 / 12. Panzer-Division;
August 1942: Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / 2. SS-Panzer-Division „Das Reich";
February 10th, 1943 – March 18th, 1943: Kommandeur 2. SS-Division "Das Reich";
1943: Inspekteur Panzertruppen / SS Führungshauptamt;
July 13th, 1944 – July 22nd, 1944: Kommandeur 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division.

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

June 27th, 1915

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

April 30th, 1918

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 8th, 1918

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

1935

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Abteilung 65, 6. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

October 12th, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 27th June 1915.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Abteilung 101

Awarded on:

July 13th, 1941

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 30th April 1918.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Regiment 29, 12. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

July 21st, 1941

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Regiment 29, 12. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

November 17th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberführer (Brigade General)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"

Awarded on:

March 31st, 1943

Vahl's Knight's Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“During the operations of the 4. Panzer-Armee in the time period 18.02.-06.03.1943 SS-Oberführer Vahl and his SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division ‘Das Reich’ participated in an unbroken chain of offensive and pursuit engagements. In this time the unit covered over 350 km, and despite the extreme difficulties of leadership (caused by the need to completely regroup the Division multiple times) the divisional commander was able to fulfill all his missions within a very short time while also inflicting crippling blows on enemy forces wherever they were encountered.

Throughout all these operations the Division was almost always at the focal point of combat. Its successes are attributable to the personal energy of Oberführer Vahl, who decisively influenced the offensive tempo on multiple occasions due to the many independent decisions he was able to make whilst present with his spearhead elements.”

• Photo 1: S. Wieslaw
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2010.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Yerger M.C., German Cross in Gold, Holders of the SS and Police, Volume 1, "Das Reich" Kurt Amlacher to Heinz Lorenz, R. James Bender Publishing, San Jose, USA, ISBN 0-912138-94-7
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives