Rudolf Saalbach
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Saalbach was a Sturmbannführer
(Major) in the Waffen-SS
during World War II
. Who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
during World War II
.
. He was a member of the NSDAP (party number 1375011) and volunteered to join the SS (SS service number 127697) in 1934 and assigned to the SS-Sonderkommando
in Sachsen until 1937 when he was transferred to the SS-Totenkopfverbände
stationed on the Elbe
.
He was then selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig
in 1938.
(First Lieutenant) and was the commander of the 1st Motorcycle Company, 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, SS Division Totenkopf and was later transferred to command the 5th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking in March 1943, with the rank of Hauptsturmführer
(Captain). Upon the formation of the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland in May 1943, he assumed command of the 11th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion.
He was awarded the Knight's Cross for his bravery and leadership between the 12 and 19 March 1944, in Hungerburg
and also promoted to Sturmbannführer
.
Saalbach was still in command of the Battalion during the Battle of Berlin
and organised an attempted breakout with the last 36 men of the Battalion on the 2 May 1945. He was last seen alive on the Weidendammer Bridge
on the Charlottenburg
which was the last time any of his group were seen alive.
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
(Major) in the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Rudolf Saalbach was born on the 18 March 1911 in Grossenhain, GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He was a member of the NSDAP (party number 1375011) and volunteered to join the SS (SS service number 127697) in 1934 and assigned to the SS-Sonderkommando
Sonderkommando
Sonderkommandos were work units of Nazi death camp prisoners, composed almost entirely of Jews, who were forced, on threat of their own deaths, to aid with the disposal of gas chamber victims during The Holocaust...
in Sachsen until 1937 when he was transferred to the SS-Totenkopfverbände
SS-Totenkopfverbände
SS-Totenkopfverbände , meaning "Death's-Head Units", was the SS organization responsible for administering the Nazi concentration camps for the Third Reich....
stationed on the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
.
He was then selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
in 1938.
World War II
By August 1940 Saalbach had been promoted to ObersturmführerObersturmführer
Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
(First Lieutenant) and was the commander of the 1st Motorcycle Company, 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, SS Division Totenkopf and was later transferred to command the 5th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking in March 1943, with the rank of Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain). Upon the formation of the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland in May 1943, he assumed command of the 11th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion.
He was awarded the Knight's Cross for his bravery and leadership between the 12 and 19 March 1944, in Hungerburg
Hungerburg
Hungerburg is a district of Innsbruck, Austria. It has a population of 647 ....
and also promoted to Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
.
Saalbach was still in command of the Battalion during the Battle of Berlin
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
and organised an attempted breakout with the last 36 men of the Battalion on the 2 May 1945. He was last seen alive on the Weidendammer Bridge
Weidendammer Bridge
The Weidendammer Bridge is an long bridge where the Friedrichstrasse crosses the Spree river in the central Mitte district of Berlin, Germany...
on the Charlottenburg
Charlottenburg
Charlottenburg is a locality of Berlin within the borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, named after Queen consort Sophia Charlotte...
which was the last time any of his group were seen alive.