Emil Seibold

Emil Seibold
Born 26 February 1907
Basel, Switzerland
Died 11 September 1990 (aged 83)
Diano Marina, Italy
Allegiance Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1931–43
Rank Hauptscharführer
Unit 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
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
Eastern Front Medal
Wound Badge in Silver
Close Combat Clasp in Bronze
General Assault Badge in Silver

Emil Seibold (26 February 1907 – 11 September 1990) was a Hauptscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Emil Seibold was born in Basel, Switzerland on 26 February 1907. He joined the Nazi Party on 1 April 1933.

Military career

Seibold joined the Waffen SS on 10 April 1940 and was first posted to the SS Totenkopf Standarte, serving an infantryman. He was transferred to the Das Reich Division, attached to the 3rd Battery, Panzerjäger Battalion as a motorcyclist. He later commanded one of the battery's guns.[1]

Seibold commanded one of a number of T-34's that saw service with the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, such as those seen here

In March 1943, Das Reich had captured a large number of Russian T-34[2] tanks and formed a III. Battalion for the 2nd SS Panzer Regiment with them, from the remnants of the Panzerjäger troops. Seibold was one of the men selected to command a T-34, and was later transferred to the 8th Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment.[1]

Seibold was the division's most successful tank commander with 65 tank kills to his credit by the end of the war. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in 6 May 1945.[1][2][3][Note 1]

Later life

Seibold survived the war and died in Italy on 11 September 1990.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ No evidence of the award can be found in the German National Archives. The award was unlawfully presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed the case in 1982 and decided: "Knight's Cross yes, 6 May 1945". The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. Seibold was a member of the AKCR.[4]

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "dasreich".
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "t34.in.german.service".
  3. ↑ "com.aces".
  4. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 174.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). 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.
  • Henschler Henri & Fay Will (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS 1943-45. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-2905-2.
  • Mattson, Gregory (2002). SS-The realm. The History of the Second SS division 1939-45. Staplehurst. ISBN 1-86227-144-5.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
  • 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.