As an intelligence officer during World War II he studied the central command of the German SS, including the Gestapo.

In 1942 he was offered command of the SS Booker T. Washington, the first Liberty ship to be named after an African-American.

These Chetniks had been under the command of the SS since 12 December 1944.

He was still in command of the 102 SS when he was awarded the Knight's Cross in April 1945.

By 1937 he was an SS-Gruppenführer and considered third in command of the entire SS (after Himmler and Heydrich).

In April 1944, he was given command of the 17th SS Panzer Regiment, which was equipped with Sturmgeschütz assault guns.

When he recovered he was given command of the 2 SS Infantry Brigade in April to August 1943.

He was killed in action in 1945, while in command of the 35th SS and Police Grenadier Division.

Captain T. H. Holyman, of the ketch Violet, took command of the SS.

Hermann Maringgele was also promoted to Untersturmführer and given command of the SS Cavalry reserve Battalion.