Walter Seebach

Walter Seebach
File:Seebach-Walter.jpg
Born	5 November 1918 Heerlen, the Netherlands
Died	Essen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1934–45
Rank	Hauptsturmführer
Unit	5th SS Division Wiking 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Close Combat Clasp in Gold Wound Badge in Gold Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze Eastern Front Medal

Walter Seebach (5 November 1918 – 4 July 2004) was a soldier, a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Nazi Germany. He was also one of only 631 men awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold.

Early life

Walter Seebach was born on 5 November 1918, in Heerlen Netherlands, but both his parents were German. They moved back to Germany and after Seebach graduated from school aged sixteen he joined the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) in March 1933. He completed his compulsory labour service between November 1938 to March 1939 and then volunteered to join the Allgemeine-SS in April 1937 and the Waffen-SS in April 1939 and was assigned to the 6th Company, SS Regiment Germania.

World War II

In November 1939, Seebach was selected to become an officer and sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz and then on to the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig in April 1940. He was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in November 1941 and posted to the 9th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Germania, 5th SS Division Wiking. In February 1942, he was made the adjutant of the II. Battalion and given command of the 2nd Company in December 1942.

In May 1943, he was transferred to the 24th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Danemark as the adjutant. He was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions around 31 January 1944, as the commander of the 5th Company, 24th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Danemark (11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland).

Sent to hospital to recover from his wounds, he was given command of the SS Reconnaissance Training and Reserve Battalion between April and June 1944, and command of the SS Panzergrenadier Training and Reserve Regiment until November 1944. He ended the war as the regimental adjutant of the 9th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Germania. (5th SS Panzer Division Wiking)