Date of birth:

January 31st, 1916 (Böttingen am Neckar/Württemberg, Germany)

Date of death:

November 6th, 1996 (Flein/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 278.265 // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Paul Senghas reched the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer.

19.07.1935: entered the SS
00.07.1935: joined the SS-Standarte 'Germania', SS-VT in Arolsen
00.00.1935: SS-Mann
00.00.1935: promoted to SS-Sturmmann
00.00.1936: SS-Sturmmann, SS-Standarte 'Deutschland'
00.03.1938: campaign in Austria
00.10.1938: campaign in the Sudetes, Bohemia and Moravia
00.03.1939: promoted to SS-Unterscharführer
00.09.1939: SS-Uscha, SS-Standarte 'Deutschland', Stab, Panzer-Division 'Kempf', campaign in Poland
10.10.1939: SS-Uscha, SS-Standarte 'Deutschland', SS-Verfügungs-Division
00.05.1940: SS-Uscha, campaign in The Netherlands, Belgium and France
00.00.1940: promoted to SS-Oberscharführer
00.02.1941: SS-Oscha, SS-Division 'Reich' mot. - campaign in the Balkans
00.06.1941: SS-Oscha, SS-Division 'Reich' mot. - campaign in Russia
00.00.1942: SS-Oscha, 1. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5, SS-Division "Wiking"
00.00.1942: promoted to SS-Hauptscharführer
00.06.1943: SS-Hascha, Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking"
00.00.1943: promoted to SS-Standartenoberjunker der Reserve
21.06.1943: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve
21.06.1944: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve
05.07.1944-23.08.1944: SS-Ostuf, Führer, Stabskompanie, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"
23.08.1944: SS-Ostuf, Führer, 3. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"
26.08.1944: SS-Ostuf, severe fightings near Slazany Bridgehead, Bug, WIA
00.09.1944: SS-Ostuf, Führer, 1. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" - Poland then Hungary
00.12.1944: SS-Ostuf, Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking", 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"
20.01.1945: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve
00.01.1945: SS-Hstuf, Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking", 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" - Neu-Raab, Bohemia
00.02.1945: SS-Hstuf, Führer, 2. Abholkommando, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking", 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" - Truppenübungsplatz Sennelager, Warendorf-Sassenberg-Versmold
01.04.1945: SS-Hstuf, severely WIA and captured in Warendorf and evacuated to a Lazarett - US POW
00.06.1946: released
Tank ace credited with 49 tank kills

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Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 28th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 11th, 1943

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 30th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)

Unit:

1. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

June 9th, 1943

after destroying more than 30 tanks

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 19th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking", 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

December 11th, 1944

Senghas’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows….

“On the 18.08.1944 the enemy advanced towards the Warsaw-Radzymin-Wyszkow road with massive forces and strong air support. At the time the 5. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Wiking’ was located along the general line Roszcep-Trojany-Debynki.

At the time SS-Obersturmführer Senghas stood as the leader of the Stabskompanie along with the supply units of the I./SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 in Zazdroso (1.5 km east of Niegow).

At 11:00 he received a message which reported the Russians as having broken through in battalion strength to a point 1 km east of the railway embankment. A wide gap existed towards the left neighbour, and there was the danger that the Russians would block the main road and thrust into the left flank of the Division. Recognizing this danger, Senghas made the decision to engage the enemy with the handful of men in the supply units at hand (despite their lack of heavy infantry weapons) and bring the Russians to a halt.

Going into position at the railway embankment, he let the Russians approach to within very close range and then smashed their attack. Reinforcements could not be brought up, and so Senghas defended with his handful of men for the remainder of that day and also the two following days, fighting off strong enemy attacks with only rifles, sub-machine guns and close combat weapons. During this time 2 Panzer IVs, which had been in the repair shop and were only conditionally operational, were brought into the fight. 2 Sherman tanks and 1 T-34 were destroyed immediately after they appeared. The Russians took heavy losses in men and ceased their attacks.

By his own initiative and personal devotion to duty, Senghas thus brought the 3 days of close combat to a conclusion. An enemy breakthrough was prevented and the danger to the left flank of the Division removed. Senghas is one of the oldest Eastern front combat veterans, who has mastered many critical situations through swift decisiveness and bold action while ruthlessly demanding the utmost of himself.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1945

• Photo 1: Dobri Dobrev
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.