Rudolf Enseling
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Enseling was a Obersturmbannführer
(Lieutenant Colonel), 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 one of the earliest members of the SS joining in 1933 when he was posted to the 62nd SS Standarte. He remained with the 62nd SS Standarte until 1935 when he joined the Pionier Battalion of the SS-VT which had just been created.
In 1936 Enseling was selected to become an officer and was posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Brunswick
, graduating in February 1937 when he was given command of the 2nd Platoon, Pionier Battalion SS-VT.
with the Pionier reserve company, he then returned to the Reich Division, which is how the SS-VT was now known, as the Pionier Light column commander.
In January 1941 he was the commander of the 3rd Company of the Pionier Battalion and was awarded the German Cross
in Gold for bravery when serving with the Kampfgruppe
Reich.
In June 1942 he was given command of the Pionier Battalion until June 1944, when he was given command of the I Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, for the Normandy
invasion, taking command of the Panzer Regiment in July 1944.
It was while in command of the 2nd SS Panzer Regiment that Ensling was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
in August 1944.
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
(Lieutenant Colonel), in the Waffen SS 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 during World War II.
Early life
Rudolf Enseling was born on 30 August 1914, in KarlsruheKarlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
. He was one of the earliest members of the SS joining in 1933 when he was posted to the 62nd SS Standarte. He remained with the 62nd SS Standarte until 1935 when he joined the Pionier Battalion of the SS-VT which had just been created.
In 1936 Enseling was selected to become an officer and was posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Brunswick
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....
, graduating in February 1937 when he was given command of the 2nd Platoon, Pionier Battalion SS-VT.
World War II
After serving in the Polish Campaign Ensling was stationed in DresdenDresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
with the Pionier reserve company, he then returned to the Reich Division, which is how the SS-VT was now known, as the Pionier Light column commander.
In January 1941 he was the commander of the 3rd Company of the Pionier Battalion and was awarded the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold for bravery when serving with the Kampfgruppe
Kampfgruppe
In military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
Reich.
In June 1942 he was given command of the Pionier Battalion until June 1944, when he was given command of the I Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, for the Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
invasion, taking command of the Panzer Regiment in July 1944.
It was while in command of the 2nd SS Panzer Regiment that Ensling 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...
in August 1944.
Post war
Rudolf Enseling survived the war and died in his home town of Karlsruhe on 25 January 1977.Promotions
- Untersturmführer: April 20, 1937
- Oberstrumführer: January 30, 1939
- Hauptsturmführer: April 20, 1941
- Sturmbannführer: June 21, 1943
- Obertsturmbannführer: Nov. 9, 1944