Knight's Cross Recipients of ϟϟ-Division „Totenkopf“ at Demyansk

SS-Oberscharführer Ludwig Köchle

SS-Hauptsturmführer Max Seela

A few short words about two of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of SS-Division Totenkopf at Demyansk. Right image: Austrian Waffen-SS volunteer SS-Oberscharführer Ludwig Köchle served as an Stoßtrupp- and Zugführer with the Totenkopf in the Demyansk Pocket. Köchle, also known as Bunkerknacker, was awarded the Knight's Cross on February 28 1942 for destroying enemy bunkers and MG positions in the pocket. Ludwig Köchle was killed in action on June 9 1942 aged 21 near Polizo southwest of Lake Ilmen. FU. Left image: SS-Hauptsturmführer Max Seela from Schöneiche near Berlin was awarded the Knight's Cross on May 3 1942, while in command of 3rd Company of SS-Pionier-Bataillon Totenkopf. Despite severe losses and meager supplies, his unit occupied the Russian village of Korowitsch in Demyansk for one month. Seela and his men prevented the village from being recaptured, denying the Soviets access to the crucial bridge over the Lovat River. The Totenkopf veteran SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Seela died aged 88 on July 31 1999 in Ratingen in North Rhine-Westphalia. Photo by the Close Combat Clasp in Silver holder SS-KB Peter Adendorf. Commons: Bundesarchiv.