Rolf Wenkhaus

Rolf Wenkhaus was a German-American actor who is best known for his roles in Emil and the Detectives, S.A.-Mann Brand, and Spoiling the Game. He was born on September 9, 1917, in Berlin, Germany, and he died on January 31, 1942, in Ireland.

Rolf Wenkhaus was the son of actor Kurt Wenkhaus. He made his acting debut at the young age of 14 in 1931, portraying the character Emil in the movie Emil and the Detectives, which was directed by Gerhard Lamprecht and based on Erich Kästner’s novel. His early career showcased his talent, leading him to appear in notable films during the early 1930s.

In addition to his debut film, Rolf appeared in Spoiling the Game in 1932 and took on the role of Erich Lohner in the propaganda film S.A.-Mann Brand in 1933. The latter film depicted a young Hitler Youth member who sacrifices himself for a comrade, a theme common in Nazi propaganda of that era. After the outbreak of World War II, Wenkhaus enlisted in the military, which altered the course of his promising career.

Rolf Wenkhaus’s life was cut short when he was killed in action on January 31, 1942, when the plane he was on was shot down during World War II. He was part of a crew of six aboard a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 “Condor” that was engaged in military operations. His contributions to film and his early career remain a part of his legacy, though many of his works are tied to the propaganda of the Third Reich, which impacted their accessibility after the war.