Rudolf Sintzenich

Rudolf Sintzenich
Generalmajor Sintzenich and his troops captured and held the Loire bridges at Orleans during the Western Campaign. This was a decisive success, one made possible by the dedication that the General displayed in such a bold action. For this, he would receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Birth date	13 July 1889
Place of birth	Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Death date	24 December 1948 (aged 59)
Place of death	Munich, Allied-occupied Germany
Allegiance	German Empire Weimar Republic National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Royal Bavarian Army Imperial German Army Freikorps Reichswehr Heer
Years of service	1908–1945
Rank	Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General)
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Poland Campaign Battle of France Conquest of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Rudolf Sintzenich (13 July 1889 – 24 December 1948) was a German officer of the Bavarian Army, the Imperial German Army, the Freikorps, the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht, finally Lieutenant General, divisional commander and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in WWII.

Life

Behind Ritter von Epp and Ritter von Schobert in October 1938 are Rudolf Sintzenich (Stahlhelm), Otto Hartmann and Kurt Brennecke

Rudolf was born in Bavaria the son of state railway inspector Georg Sintzenich and his wife Katarina, née Kammerl. He joined the Bavarian Army in 1908 as a Fahnenjunker (officer candidate) and served with the 11. Königlich Bayerisches Infanterie-Regiment "von der Tann" in Regensburg. As of 1913, he served as adjutant of the 1st Battalion. In 1915, after being promoted to 1st Lieutenant, he served as regimental adjutant. Later he also served as adjutant of the 6th Royal Bavarian Infantry Brigade.

Reichswehr

On 1 October 1919, he became company commander in the Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 48, on 1 October 1920 he became company commander in the 20. (Bayerisches) Infanterie-Regiment in Regensburg. In 1926, he served with the staff of the regiment. On 1 February 1928, he became adjutant if the Infantry Leader (Infanterieführer) VII, on 1 October 1933 of the 7th Division and on 1 October 1934 of the 7th Army Corps.

Wehrmacht

• 1.10.1935 to 9.1.1940 Commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 61 in München
  • the regiment took part in the accession of Austria and the liberation of the Sudetenland in 1938.
• 10.1.1940 to 14.4.1940 Field Commandant (Feldkommandant) 671
• 29.4.1940 to 4.10.1940 Commander of the 33. Infanterie-Division
• 5.10.1940 to 11.3.1942 Commander of the 132. Infanterie-Division
• 11.3.1942 Leader Reserve (Führerreserve)
• 1.4.1942 to 23.12.1942 Commander of the 147. Reserve-Division
• 23.12.1942 Leader Reserve (Führerreserve)
• 1.3.1943 to 12.1.1944 Inspector of the Munich Defense Replacement Inspectorate (Inspekteur Wehrersatzinspektion)
• 13.1.1944 to 1.2.1944 Commander of the of the Division Nr. 467
  • during his leave Lieutenant General Walter Poppe (at the same time commander of the 77. Infanterie-Division) became deputy commander
• 25.4.1944 to 26.3.1945 Commander of the Division Nr. 467
  • 26.3.1945 to 18.4.1945 At the same time Commander of the Bavaria Training Division (467th Replacement and Training Division)
• 18.4.1945 Reported sick, a colonel took over
  • some sources state, Walter Poppe (actually Division z. b. V. 469) took over the regiment on 27 April, the personnel file of Major General Joseph Roßmann (1896–1973) states, he was ordered to take over the regiment with effect from 29 April, but it is uncertain whether this ever happened.
• 29.4.1945 Leader Reserve (Führerreserve OKH) in Traunstein
• 30.4.1945 to 24.12.1947 POW, in captivity

Promotions

• 23.10.1910 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
• 1.6.1915 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Reichswehr

• 22.8.1919 Hauptmann (Captain) with Patent from 18.8.1918
  • 1.2.1922 Received new Rank Seniority (RDA) from 18.4.1917
• 1.8.1930 Major
• 1.4.1934 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)

Wehrmacht

• 1.3.1936 Oberst (Colonel)
• 1.12.1939 Generalmajor (Major General)
• 1.12.1941 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General)

Awards and decorations (excerpt)

• Bavarian Prince Regent Luitpold Medal in Bronze (Prinzregent-Luitpold-Medaille) on the ribbon of the Anniversary Medal for the Army (Jubiläumsmedaille für die Armee)
• Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class
• Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with Swords (BMV4⚔/BM4⚔)
• Wound Badge (1918) in Black
• Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer (FEK)
• Wehrmacht Long Service Awards (Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung), 4th to 1st Class
• Ostmark Medal
• Sudetenland Medal
• Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd and 1st Class
• War Merit Cross (1939), 2nd Class with Swords
• Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal
• Croation Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir, I. Class with Swords and Star (neck order)
• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 August 1940 as Major General and Commander of the 33. Infanterie-Division

Gallery

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Further reading

• Heinrich Müller (publisher): Division Sintzenich – Erlebnisbericht aus dem Feldzuge in Frankreich, Frankfurt am Main 1940 (2nd and 3rd Edition 1941 and 1943)