Eduard Deisenhofer

Infobox Military Person
name=Dr. jur. Eduard Deisenhofer
lived=27 June 1909 – MIA 31 January 1945
placeofbirth=Freising
placeofdeath=near Arnswalde


caption=Deisenhofer during his service with the SS-Division (mot) "Totenkopf", 1942.]
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=
serviceyears=1930-1945
rank=Oberführer
commands=
unit=SS Division Totenkopf
battles=World War II
awards=German Cross in Gold
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
laterwork=

Dr. Eduard Deisenhofer (27 June 1909 – MIA 31 January 1945) was an officer and commander in the German Waffen-SS who served with several combat divisions on both the eastern and western fronts. Diesenhofer can be seen as an interesting example of the 'educated' SS man, most of whom served in the SD.

Early life and pre-war career

Born in Freising, Bavaria, to a middle class family, Deisenhofer excelled in his studies at school from a young age. After his schooling, he pursued studies in the fields of politics and economics. He eventually received his PhD as a political economist. During his time at university, he had come into contact with the Nazi Party, and soon applied to join the SA. After only a few months with the SA, Deisenhofer transferred to the SS, beginning his service on 1 October 1930.

Described by Gottfried Klingemann as a 'clear-thinking and just man with an energetic and tenacious character', Deisenhofer quickly climbed his way through the ranks, holding various low level command positions, including service with the Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler" in 1934 and at the KZ Dachau in 1935. By this stage he had reached the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer.

On 30 January 1936, Deisenhofer married Edeltraut Holzapfel. Over the course of the next few years, they would have three daughters, one of whom was killed in a bombing raid in May 1943.

In 1936, he was transferred to SS-Wachtruppe "Oberbayern". Over the next two years he served in both the Totenkopfverbände units SS Verbande "Sachsen" and SS Standarte "Thuringen".

Early war campaigns

The outbreak of war found him serving back with the "Oberbayern", now expanded to an SS Totenkopf Standarte. The Oberbayern was involved in "police and security" measures during the Invasion of Poland.

After the Polish campaign, "Oberbayern" was absorbed into the newly formed SS Division "Totenkopf". Deisenhofer, now an SS-Sturmbannführer, was placed in command of the II Battalion of "SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1". He led this formation through the initial phase of the Campaign in the West, receiving the Iron Cross for his bravery in combat. Deisenhofer was pulled out of the line in late May and placed in charge of II Battalion of the newly formed Dutch and Belgian volunteer formation SS-Freiwilligen-Standarte "Nordwest". After commanding the II./"Nordwest" during its training and formation, Deisenhofer was transferred to the SS-Ersatz-Bataillon "Ost", a replacement and training unit based in Berlin.

In August 1941, Deisenhofer was transferred to command of I./SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9 "Germania", one of the Infantry regiments of the SS-Division(mot) "Wiking", currently serving on the Eastern Front. Deisenhofer commanded the Battalion during the winter, before in February 1942 he was sent back to the "Totenkopf" division, this time to serve as commander of I./SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1.

The Totenkopf was attached to Army Group North, advancing on Leningrad. The division saw very heavy fighting near Demjansk and during the battle was completely surrounded. Deisenhofer led his men well, acting bravely and showing courage under fire. When his badly depleted Battalion was formed into part of a larger Kampfgruppe, Deisenhofer was given command, leading the Kampfgruppe during the breakout from the pocket. On 20 April 1942, he was promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer. On 17 May, 1942, Deisenhofer was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions in the Demjansk pocket. The tattered remnants of the "Totenkopf" were pulled back to France to be rebuilt. Deisenhofer was ordered to Berlin for reassignment.

Training duties

Deisenhofer was firstly reassigned as commander of an SS motorcycle replacement battalion which he led until he was ordered to SS-Junkerschule in Bad Tölz, Bavaria.

Upon arrival at the SS officers school, Deisenhofer was informed that he was to take over as training group commander. As part of this command, he was to travel between several different training grounds including the Armour school, Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf and the Light Infantry school, both located at Wünsdorf.

At the end of April 1943, Deisenhofer was transferred to Berlin to operate as a training officer for the SS Infantry and Mountain troop Inspection department, a part of the SS-FHA. In November 1943 he was sent to the 11th (Officer Training) Department (Amt XI) of the SS-FHA.

Divisional command - late war

In early March 1944, Diesenhofer was finally relieved from his duties attached to the SS-Junkerschule Tölz and sent back to a combat formation, this time SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21 of the 10.SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg". Diesenhofer commanded the regiment during the "Frundsberg" and the 9.SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen's" successful attempt to relieve the encircled 1.Panzerarmee of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube in what was known as the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket. For his actions during this battle, Deisenhofer was promoted to SS-Standartenführer.

The "Frundsberg" was sent to the Normandy Front to attempt to halt the advance of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group, currently advancing on Caen. Deisenhofer led the regiment through heavy fighting including the battles on Hill 112 and the defeat of Operation Epsom.

In mid July, Deisenhofer was ordered back east to take command of the 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", currently engaged in heavy fighting in the area near Modlin. In mid August, Deisenhofer was ordered back to Berlin to await his next command. At the end of the month, he took over command of the 17.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen", which was on engaged in a fighting withdrawal towards the Saar. Deisenhofer commanded the division during the heavy fighting against the Americans on the Moselle and in the subsequent withdrawal to Metz. At the end of September, Deisenhofer was wounded in the fighting and ordered back to Berlin to rest and recuperate.

On 31 December, he was tasked with organising a Kampfgruppe from the recruits of the SS-Truppenubungsplatz to defend Bad Saarow. On 1 January, Deisenhofer was promoted to SS-Oberführer. Near the end of January, Deisenhofer was ordered to Arnswalde in Pomerania to take command of the 15.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr.1). He began travelling north to take over his next command, but a Soviet ground attack aircraft attacked the staff car, killing Deishofer, his driver and his adjutant.

ummary of SS career

Dates of rank

* SS-Scharführer: July 8, 1932
* SS-Truppführer: may 17, 1933
* SS-Obertruppführer: August 21, 1933
* SS-Sturmführer: November 8, 1933
* SS-Obersturmführer: April 20, 1934
* SS-Hauptsturmführer: September 15, 1935
* SS-Sturmbannführer: October 2, 1938
* SS-Obersturmbannführer: April 20, 1942
* SS-Standartenführer: April 20, 1944
* SS-Oberführer: January 1, 1945

Notable decorations

* German Cross in Gold (1942)
* Eastern Front Medal (1942)
* Infantry Assault Badge(?)
* Iron Cross Second (1940) and First (1940) Classes
* Wound Badge in Black (1940) and Silver (?)
* Knight's Cross (1942)
* SS-Honour Ring (?)
* Sudetenland Medal (?)
* Anschluss Medal (?)

Notes

NSDAP #: 250 226 - joined on May 25, 1930
SS-#: 3642 - September 01, 1930

References

* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
*cite book|first=Mark C|last= Yerger|title=Waffen-SS Commanders: The Army, Corps and Divisional Leaders of a
|publisher=Schiffer Publishing|location=Atglen, PA|year= 1997 |id= ISBN 978-0764303562

Bibliography - links

* [http://www.axishistory.com Axis History Factbook]
* [http://www.feldgrau.com Feldgrau - The History of the German Armed Forces in WWII]