Max Seela

Max Seela
Born	15 July 1911 Schöneiche, Germany
Died	31 July 1999 Ratingen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1933–1945
Rank	Obersturmbannführer
Unit	3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Wound Badge Tank Destruction Badge in Silver Eastern Front Medal 1941/42 Honour Chevron for the Old Guard [1]

Max Seela (1911–1999) was a Obersturmbannführer (lieutenant-colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II 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.

Early life

Max Seela was born on July 15, 1911 at Schöneiche near Berlin. After leaving school in 1929 he went into the Reichswehr (German Army) and was then transferred into the SS-VT in 1935, his SS service number was 257.323 and his NSDAP number was 147.126. In September 1935 he joined the SS Pionier Battalion.^[1][2]

World War II

By October 1939 he had been given command of the 3rd Company, SS Pionier Battalion Totenkopf, (3rd SS Division Totenkopf), being awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in May 1940 and the Iron Cross 1st class in June 1940. He took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) and was awarded the German Cross in Gold in December 1941.^[1][2]

His award of the Knight's Cross was in May 1942, while Seela as a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) and still in command of the 3rd Company. Despite severe losses and meager supplies, his unit defended the Russian village of Korowitsch in the Demyansk Pocket for one month. Seela and 3rd Company prevented the village being captured, denying the Soviets access to the crucial bridge over the Lowat river.^[1][2]

In July 1942 he was given command of the 3rd SS Pionier Battalion Totenkopf until April 1944 when he was moved to command the II SS Panzer Corps Pioniers, then given command of the 19th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen.^[1][2]

On May 8, 1945, he was captured by American forces and became a Prisoner of war.^[1][2]

Post war

Max Seela died at the age of 88 on July 31, 1999.^[1][2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "frontkjemper". http://www.frontkjemper.info/show_person.php?P_ID=836. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "orion47". Archived from the original on 2009-10-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20091028181126/http://geocities.com/~orion47/SS-POLIZEI/SS-Stubaf_Q-T.html. 

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Mitcham, Jr.Samuel, Retreat to the Reich, Stackpole books 2007. ISBN 081173384X
• Henschler Henri & Fay Will, Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 0811729052

Persondata
Name	Seela, Max
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	15 July 1911
Place of birth	Schöneiche, Germany
Date of death	31 July 1999
Place of death	Ratingen