Herbert-Ernst Vahl - World War II

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.

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). During this time he was awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Panzer Badge.

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

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

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.

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 Bielgorod.

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).

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

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