Herbert-Ernst Vahl

Herbert-Ernst Vahl

Herbert-Ernst Vahl, official portrait after being awarded the Knight's Cross
Born (1896-10-09)9 October 1896
Posen, Province of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire now Poznań, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Died 22 July 1944(1944-07-22) (aged 47)
near Thessaloniki, Hellenic State
Allegiance
Service/branch
Years of service 1914–44
Rank SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Herbert-Ernst Vahl was a Brigadeführer (Major General) and Generalmajor in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was the commander of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich and the 4th SS Polizei Division, 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.[1]

Herbert Ernst Vahl, was born on 9 October 1896 at Posen, Prussian Province of Posen.[1]

World War I

During World War I he joined the 7th Infantry Regiment in 1914, being selected to become an officer on 8 January 1915. He served on the Western Front at the Somme and Verdun. He was twice wounded in 1916 and 1917 and by the end of World War I, had been awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class.[1]

Between the wars

At the end of World War I, Vahl had decided to stay in the Army (Reichswehr). He served as an Instructor in several of the Military schools, before being posted to the 14rh Company, 16th Reiter Regiment (Cavalry) in Berlin.[1]

In November 1936 Vahl was promoted to Major and posted to the II.Battalion, 4th Panzer Regiment, 2nd Panzer Division.[1]

World War II

In September 1939 Vahl was promoted to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel), and posted to command the 65th Panzer Battalion, 6th Panzer Division which he served with during the Polish Campaign.[1]

In May 1940 he was in command of the 101st Panzer Battalion, which was a special unit comprising only flamethrower tanks. He commanded this Battalion during the Battle of France, the invasion of the Balkans (Operation Marita) and the Invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarosa).[1] During this time he was awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Panzer Badge.[1]

Vahl's Battalion was then attached to the 3rd Infantry Division (Motorised) and moved to the Leningrad sector of the front.[1]

On 13 December 1941 Vahl was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) and given command of the 29th Panzer Regiment, 12th Panzer Division.[1]

In 1942 under orders from Berlin Vahl left the Heer and joined the Waffen SS, and is given the rank of Standartenführer (Colonel), and posted to the Das Reich Division as the commander of the 2nd SS Panzer regiment.[1][2]

In February 1943, Vahl was promoted to Oberführer (Brigadier General), and given command of the Das Reich which was stationed in Russia. While in command during the Battle of Kharkov he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and was seriously wounded at Belgorod.[1][2]

In April 1943 while recovering from his wounds he was promoted to Brigadeführer (Major General) and Generalmajor of the Waffen SS. After recovering from his wounds he became the Inspector of Panzer troops in the SS Führungshauptamt (SS main office).[1][2]

In July 1944 Vahl returned to active service with the 4th SS Polizei Division which was in Greece serving in Thessalonika fighting against partisans.[1][2][3]

Vahl arrived to assume command of the Division on 13 July 1944 but was killed in a motoring accident on 22 July 1944.[1][2][3]

Summary of his military career

Dates of rank

Notable decorations

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
  • Gordon Williamson – The SS: Hitler's Instrument of Terror: The Full Story From Street Fighters to the Waffen-SS – Motorbooks International, (March 1994), ISBN 0-87938-905-2, ISBN 978-0-87938-905-5.
  • Yerger, Mark C. (1999). Waffen-SS commanders. Vol. II : the army, corps and divisional leaders of a legend. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0769-0. 
Military offices
Preceded by
SS-Obergruppenführer Georg Keppler		 Commander of 2. SS-Division Das Reich
10 February 1943 – 18 March 1943 		Succeeded by
SS-Oberführer Kurt Brasack
Preceded by
SS-Oberführer Friedrich-Wilhelm Bock		 Commander of 4th SS Polizei Division
7 May 1944 – 22 July 1944 		Succeeded by
SS-Standartenführer Karl Schümers
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