SS-Hstuf. Hermann Buch

[Michael Miller]

Seeking additional data- particularly dates of promotions, assignments, and awards- of this officer.

With thanks in advance,
~ Mike


Friedrich Hermann Robert Buch
SS-Hauptsturmführer


Born: 16.02.1920 in Scheuern/Gernsbach.
Died: 12.11.2012 in a retirement home near Budapest, Hungary. He had resettled to that country with his family on 15.09.2000.

NSDAP-Nr.:
SS-Nr.: 357 263 (Joined 01.11.1938)

Promotions:
SS-Untersturmführer
SS-Obersturmführer
SS-Hauptsturmführer

Career:
Adjutant of SS-Kradschützen-Bataillon/SS-Division (mot.) “Reich”.
Kompanieführer of 3. Kompanie/SS-Kradschützen-Bataillon/SS-Division “Reich” (mot.).
Kompanieführer of 15. Kompanie/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment “Der Führer”/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Das Reich”.
Severely wounded, then on convalescent leave.
Assigned to Verwaltungsdienst (administrative service) at SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz.
Divisions-Adjutant (IIa) of 2. SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich”.

Postwar Activities:
00.00.1945-00.00.194_ In Allied captivity.
00.00.19__-00.00.19__ Editor of Der Freiwillige (the Waffen-SS veterans publication).
22.10.1971 Founded the “Vereinigung der Freunde der SS-Division ‘Das Reich’” (Assocation of Friends of the SS-Division “Das
Reich”) in Rosenheim.

Decorations & Awards:
1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
1939 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Silber
Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Schwarz
Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”
Goldenes Hitler-Jugend Ehrenzeichen
Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer

[Ignacio]

Hello Michael

For Buch, check footnote 178, Volume 1 of Mark Yerger's German Cross in Gold series.

He was promoted to SS-Ustuf. on 13.06.40, to SS-Ostuf. on 30.01.42 and to SS-Hstuf. on 20.04.44.

In mid-January 1945 he became the last "Das Reich" divisional adjutant replacing SS-Hstuf. Otto Resch.

Regards from Madrid

Ignacio

[Michael Miller]

Dear Ignacio~

Thanks so much for the assistance.

Best wishes from San Franzisko,
~ Mike

[carmilhan]

Hi,

Hermann Buch was the son of SS Obergruppenführer Walter Buch, Major(ret.) and "Oberster Parteirichter der NSDAP"
His brother in law was the " secretary of the Führer" Reichsleiter Martin Bormann.

Regards
carmilhan

[Michael Miller]

Thank you.

Yes, I need the information on Hermann as I'm writing a biographical sketch of Walter Buch for one of my books.
I'm including as much information on his sons (Hermann and the eventual Kapt.z.See Hans-Walter Buch [DKiG]) and daughters (Gerda and Lore) as I can find.

Best wishes,
~ Mike

[carmilhan]

Hi Mike,

some Facts about Hans Walter Buch:

Hans-Walter Buch, * 11.Jan.1912 in Biebrich (bei Wiesbaden)  07.August 2001 in Ulm.
Three Marriages (1937(?) with 3 children ; 24.03.1949 Ursel O. with 1 child, 1990(?) Hildegard)

08.04.1934 Eintritt in Reichs-Marine-Crew 34
26.09.1934 Seekadett ( midshipman- i.e. Petty Officer 3rd Class-Officer Candiatate)
01.07.1935 Fähnrich z. See (midshipman- i.e. Petty Officer 1st Class-Officer Candiatate)
01.01.1937 Oberfähnrich z.See (midshipman- i.e. CPO- Officer Candiatate)
01.04.1937 Leutnant z. See (ensign)
01.04.1939 Oberleutnant z. See (Lieutenant j.g.)
01.02.1942 Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant)
00.00.1956 Korvettenkapitän (Lt. Cdr.)
00.001960 Fregattenkapitän (Cdr.)
00.00.1965 Kapitän zur See (Captain)
00.00.1972 Retired


01.12.1938-
01.04.1940 OOD Zerstörer „Bernd von Arnim“
01.04.40-
01.07.40 Platoon-Leader Marine-(“Infantry”-)Regiment “Berger” (Fight for Narvik/Norway)
01.07.1940-
01.03.1941 Gruppenführer Hafenschutz-Flottille „Molde“
01.03.1941-
01.06.1941 Company-Leader in Zerstörer- und Trorpedo-Stammabteilung
01.06.1941-
01.07.1942 Senior OOD „Z 29“
01.07.1942-
01.03.1943 XO „Z 29“
01.03.43-
01.09.1943 CO Torpedoboot “Falke”
01.10.1943-
01.08.1944 CO “T 30”
01.08.1944-
01.10.1944 Leader “Torpedobootsgruppe Finnenbusen“ in the Baltic Sea
01.10.1944-
08.05.1945 CO “T 35”

Medals:
1939 EK 2
1940 EK 1
1940 Narvik-Shield
1944 German Cross in Gold (8.8.1944)
1971 Bundesverdienstkreuz 1, Class
1992 Rettungsmedaile „Ostsee 1945“

1945 – 1956: Civil Life
Kapitän (A6) (Master) at Reederei Ahlmann-Transport, Rendsburg

1956-1972: German Bundesmarine
00.00.1956-
01.04.1960 ??
01.04.1960-
01.09.1960 Commodore (temp.) 3. Zerstörergeschwader: (Fletcher-Destroyer Z4, Z5,Z6)
01.09.1960 at the same time CO of „Z 4“
01.09.1960-
07.08.1962 ??
07.08.1962-
31.03.1965 Commanding Officer „Kommando der Troßschiffe“ (CO ServRon Bundesmarine)
01.04.1965-
01.01.1970 Head of "DDG Project Management Office" in Washington (Three Charles F. Adams SCB 155-DDGs built for the German Navy)

Best wishes
carmilhan

[Halfdan S.]

Hermann Buch after the War apparently upheld contacts to the neonazi „Bewegung Reich“. What I find interesting is his relocation to Hungary - as I remember his brother-in-law, Martin Bormann, fell out with his brother, Albert, because Albert was married to a Hungarian woman.

Regards
Halfdan S.

[Michael Miller]

Hugely helpful information, carmilhan. Thanks so much.

Best wishes,
~ Mike

[Michael Miller]

Thank you for that additional data, Halfdan.

Best wishes,
~ Mike

[Michael Miller]

Carmilhan~

With regard to Hans-Walter Buch, according to the Metapedia biography of him (https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Buch,_Hans-Walter), he was
I. Wachoffizier of "Z 29" (06.1941-07.1942) then I. Wachoffizier of "Z 28" (07.1942-03.1943).

Your information indicates he was "Senior OOD" (which I presume to mean I. Wachoffizier) of "Z 29" (01.06.1941-01.07.1942), then "XO" (German title for this assignment?) of "Z 29" (01.07.1942-01.03.1943)

Is the information at the link I posted incorrect, and was he in fact assigned to "Z 29" continuously (with no assignment to "Z 28")?

Also, to his awards we can add the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen, and Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse, and possibly the Deutsche Spanien-Kreuz (in bronze, I think, based on what little I can see of it in this photo, but unknown if mit oder ohen Schwertern).

With many thanks,
~ Mike

[carmilhan]

Hi Mike,
sorry, you are right with Z 29 and Z 28. I took it wrong out of my source :"Lohmann/Hildebrandt: Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine 1939-45, Volume III".
"Senior OOD" should be roughly the äquivelent to the german "1.Wachoffizier"
XO should be the german "1.Offizier" ( as the deputy of the Commanding Officer.

Two more bio- facts:
Buch left the Naval Academy in the lower half of his class ( 98 of 181).
In November 1937 he was junior officer on Light Cruiser "Köln". In November 1938 he was junior officer in 6. Zerstörer-Division (desdiv 6).
best wishes
carmilhan