Rudolf Saalbach

Rudolf Saalbach
Born	18 March 1911 Grossenhain, Germany
Died	May 1945 (aged 34) Berlin, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit	SS-Totenkopfverbände SS Division Totenkopf 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Panzer Badge Eastern Front Medal Close Combat Clasp in Bronze War Merit Cross with Swords

Rudolf Saalbach (18 March 1911 — May 1945) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He 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.

Early life

Rudolf Saalbach was born on 18 March 1911 in Grossenhain, Germany. He was a member of the NSDAP (party number 1375011) and volunteered to join the SS (SS service number 127697) in 1934. He was 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.

World War II

By August 1940, Saalbach had been promoted to Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) and was the commander of the 1st Motorcycle Company, 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, SS Division Totenkopf. He 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 Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion.

Saalbach was awarded the Knight's Cross for his bravery and leadership between 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 a breakout attempt with the last 36 men of the battalion on 2 May 1945. He was last seen on the Weidendammer Bridge on the Charlottenburg, which was the last time any of his group were seen alive.

References

Further reading

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
• Fey, Will; Henschler, Henri (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.