Eduard Deisenhofer Dr . Eduard Deisenhofer ( 27 June 1909 , Freising , Upper Bavaria – 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 , earning several high grade distinctions , such as the Close Combat Clasp , and the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross . Deisenhofer 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 ( Major ) , 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 First Class 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 the command of the 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 being sent back to the " Totenkopf " division in February 1942 , 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 ( Demyansk Pocket ) . 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 , and engaging in more than 35 days of hand - to - hand combat , qualifying him for the Close Combat Clasp in silver . On 20 April 1942 , he was promoted to SS - Obersturmbannführer ( Lieutenant Colonel ) . On 17 May 1942 , Deisenhofer was awarded the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions in the Demyansk 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 ( Colonel ) . 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 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 - Truppenübungsplatz to defend Bad Saarow . On 1 January , Deisenhofer was promoted to SS - Oberführer ( Senior Colonel ) . 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 Deisenhofer , his driver and his adjutant . Because evidence of Deisenhofer ' s death is lacking , he is classified as missing in action , rather than killed . His remains were not found . Notes . NSDAP # : 250 226 - joined on May 25 , 1930 < br > SS - # : 3642 - September 1 , 1930