SS-Ogruf. u. Gen. d. W-SS Maximilian von Herff

[Michael Miller]

Seeking any information- particularly career details- on subject SS General.

Thanks very much in advance.

Best wishes,
~ Mike Miller


Maximilian von Herff
SS-Obergruppenführer
und General der Waffen-SS /
Oberst a.D. (Heer)


Born: 17. April 1893 in Hannover / Niedersachsen.
Died: 6. September 1945 at Cornshead Priory POW Camp, Lake Windermere, Scotland; buried in the German War Cemetery, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.

NSDAP-Nr.: 8 858 661
(Joined 8. Apr. 1942)
SS-Nr.: 405 894
(Joined 9. Dec. 1941)

Promotions:
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS: 20. Apr. 1944
SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS: 30. Jan. 1943
SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS: 20. Apr. 1942
SS-Oberführer: 9. Dec. 1941
(mit RDA vom 1. Oct. 1939)
SS-Mann: 9. Dec. 1941
Oberst: 1. Nov. 1941
Oberstleutnant: 1. Aug. 1937
Major: 1. Oct. 1934
Hauptmann: 1. Feb. 1928
Oberleutnant: 18. Oct. 1918
Leutnant: 11. Feb. 1915
(Patent vom 23. Jun. 1913)

Career:
Assigned to Leibgarde-Infanterie-Regiment (1.Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 115 / 154.Infanterie-Regiment: 4. Aug. 1914 - 9. Nov. 1918. Freikorps Service: 1. Mar. 1919 - 1. Oct. 1919. Oberleutnant in 18.Reiter-Regiment (Stuttgart): (1926)
Assigned to 15.Infanterie-Regiment: 9. Nov. 1918 - 15. Mar. 1935. Assigned to Staff of VIII.Armee-Korps: 16. Mar. 1935 - 30. Sep. 1941. Adjutant of XVII.Armee-Korps (Vienna): 3. Jan. 1939 -. Kommandeur of Schützen-Regiment 115: . Transferred to Waffen-SS: . Chef, SS-Personalhauptamt (HQ: 98-99 Wilmersdorferstraße, Berlin Charlottenburg): 1. Oct. 1942 - May 1945.

Postwar Captivity:

Decorations & Awards:
~ Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes 13. Jun. 1941 as Oberst, Kdr., Kampfgruppe "von Herff", North Africa
Ritterkreuz des Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern: 8. Nov. 1918
1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse: 4. Jul. 1917
1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse: 14. Oct. 1914
Hessische Tapferkeitsmedaille: 24. Nov. 1915
Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber
Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz: 11. Jan. 1919
Ärmelband “Afrika”
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Ehrendegen des RF SS
Totenkopfring der SS
Silver Medal for Bravery (Italy): 1941

Notes:
* Son of a physician.
* Religion: Protestant until 4. Mar. 1943, then declared himself “gottgläubig”.
* Married on 14. Aug. 1920 to Hedwig von Grolman (born 28. Jun. 1896 in Emmerich / Rheinland). Three daughters (born 18. Apr. 1921; 30. Oct. 1925; and 3. Jul. 1927).

[Georges JEROME]

Hi Mike,


he was released from army with effect on 1.12.41
prior to appointment to PHA , he was assigned to various SS hauptamters (einarbeitung) :
23.11.41 - 25.12.41 b RSHA
january 42 up to 18.1.42 b SS FHA
19.1 bi 31.1 b HA ORPO
february : (1 week each) VVHA u Haushalt u Bauten
SS HA
RuSHA
HA Pers stab RFSS
mars : 1 week each : HA SS Gericht
HA VOMI
Stabs HA RKF
HA Napola
1.4.42 einarbeitung in SS PHA

(Der RFSS FHQ 28.11.41)

1.10.1942 mit der Fûhrung der Geschafte des Hauptamtschef des SS PHA beauftragt (non commissionned chief)

[Greyfinn]

..and I scanned photo ....
Regards
Greyfinn

[askropp]

At long last, I discovered an important error repeated in all known bios of Herff (even in Schulz / Zinke). Of course, November 1941 would have been way too late for his promotion to Oberst. His last Friedensdienststelle is given as OKH / HPA / Ag P1. He was already serving there when he got his RDA-Verbesserung in April 1939.

01.08.1937 Oberstleutnant (37)
20.04.1939 neues RDA vom 01.01.1937 (1a) erhalten
01.10.1939 Oberst (1)
30.11.1941 ausgeschieden

Source: DAL 1938-1941, Personalveränderungen 1939

[Dieter Zinke]

Very valuable and highly welcome Information. Danke !!!
Athos

[steve248]

von Herff and SS-Stubaf Alfred Franke-Gricksch made their visit to the Generalgouvernement in 1943. According to F-G's report this was their itinerary:

4 May 1943, SS-Stubaf. Franke-Gricksch accompanied SS-Gruf. von Herff on an official trip to the east; setting off this day from Tempelhof aerodrome at 0915 hrs, landing at Krakau at 1140 hrs (passing over Cottbus and Breslau) and at 1300 hrs arrived KL Auschwitz. That evening von Herff made a speech before the assembled SS staff then had dinner with them.

5 May 1943, in Krakau with HSSPF GG (F.-W. Krüger)

6 May 1943, more meetings and visits in Krakau; at 1800 hrs left Krakau for Berlin and the funeral of SA-Stabschef Lutze

8 May 1943 (Saturday), arrived back in Krakau, meeting again with F.-W. Krüger; that afternoon visited Debica camp before continuing on to Lwow

9 May 1943, with Katzmann in Lwow, visits around the town

10 May 1943, visit to Forced Labour Camp in Lwow

12 May 1943, arrived Lublin (Globocnik and Lipowa Street Camp) and in the afternoon at Trawniki; OSTI

13 May 1943, a.m. at Ostlafer “Erlenhof” near Lublin; in the p.m. at Poniatowa; then left Lublin for Radom

14 May 1943, at Radom, afterwards in Warsaw

15 May 1943, visits in and around Warsaw

[iggy88]

According to HPA PV: Herff (FR OKH) was named Kdr. 23. Schützen-Brigade mit Wirkung vom 08 Oct 1941. However, it appears that he did not assume this post. In the HPA PV of 29 Nov 1941, this assignment was stated to be "nicht wirksam geworden".

[stryder]

von Herff and SS-Stubaf. Alfred Franke-Gricksch made their visit to the Generalgouvernement in 1943. According to F-G's report this was their itinerary:
12 May 1943, arrived Lublin (Globocnik and Lipowa Street Camp) and in the afternoon at Trawniki; OSTI
13 May 1943, a.m. at Ostlafer “Erlenhof” near Lublin; in the p.m. at Poniatowa; then left Lublin for Radom

After leaving Trawniki:
...A description of Wippern's operation is described in the report of SS-Sturmbannführer Albert Franke-Gricksch on a tour of Poland with his superior Max von Herff in May 1943:
"From Trawniki we traveled back to Lublin to inspect the special enterprise Reinhard. This branch has had the task of realizing all mobile Jewish property in the Gouvernement Poland. It is astonishing what immense fortunes the Jews have collected in their ghetto and even ragged and vermin infested dirty little Jews who look like beggars, carry with them, when you strip their clothes off them, foreign currency, pieces of gold, diamonds and other valuables. We wandered through the cellars of this 'special enterprise' and we were reminded of the fairy tales of the Arabian Nights."

[askropp]

Apparently, there were plans for Herff if he would have remained in the Heer:

[Georg_S]

Hello

I got a serie of photos of Maximilan von Herff, ther are maybe 12 different photos in the set, I have coosen some of them and publish them here. BUT! At the same time there is some photos of an SS-Hstuf. from the same occaision, which make me think that I might be Maximilian von Herffs Adjutant. Does anyone know who he might be?

Best regards
Georg

[Georges JEROME]

thanks for sharing.

[Michael Miller]

Hello

I got a serie of photos of Maximilan von Herff, ther are maybe 12 different photos in the set, I have coosen some of them and publish them here. BUT! At the same time there is some photos of an SS-Hstuf. from the same occaision, which make me think that I might be Maximilian von Herffs Adjutant. Does anyone know who he might be?

Best regards
Georg

A real treasure trove, Georg.
Thanks for sharing it.
Here's another from the same sequence, from the late Roger Bender's collection.

Best wishes,
~ Mike