Hugo Kraas
Hugo Kraas ( born January 25, 1911 in Witten; † February 20, 1980 in Selk ) was a German SS - Brigade and Major General of the Waffen- SS as well as from 15 November 1944, the last commander of the 12th SS Panzer Division " Hitlerjugend "
Life
Origin
Hugo Kraas was the eldest of six sons of the main teacher Franz Albert Kraas († March 1932 ) and his wife Maria Christine, nee Korte.
Career
He started after school studying to become a teacher until the death of his father forced him to cancel the training and to work for the family.
On May 1, 1934 Kraas member of the NSDAP ( Mitgliedsnr. 2204561 ) and shortly thereafter the SA, which he nage heard until April 20, 1935. He then took in Kiel at the College of Teacher Education to study. From the army of the Wehrmacht, he was called as a cadet on July 1, 1935, and assigned to the 10th Company of the Infantry Regiment 6. Already on 30 September 1935 he was released on the reserve. On October 15, 1935 Kraas joined the SS Verfügungstruppe ( Mitgliedsnr. 289 633 ) and came as an SS troop leader in the " Germania " standard. Kraas attended the third cadet group of the SS Junker School Brunswick in April 1937 and was promoted on March 12, 1938 SS -Untersturmführer. He finished school as the second best in its class.
As an SS lieutenant he belonged to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler ( LSSAH ) and was responsible there for the leadership of a platoon of tank destroyers Company. He led this division during the invasion of Poland in 1939 and was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class on 16 October 1939.
In November of this year was Kurt Meyer head of a motorcycle riflemen company and was allowed to take one of his former subordinate officers: Hugo Kraas. The now for the SS Obersturmführer Ascended participated with the company in the invasion of the Netherlands and has been honored for his achievements as first officer of the LSSAH the Iron Cross First Class. After the occupation of Holland and France the LSSAH was enlarged and became chief Kraas this Kradschützenkompanie - now the 2nd Company of the Reconnaissance Battalion. He fought with Meyer in the Balkans and in Russia. During the Russian campaign he was honored to Christmas 1941 with the German Cross in Gold for outstanding leadership of his association during the first battles to Rostov. In June 1942 Kraas took over command of the I. Battalion of the SS-Panzer - Grenadier - Regiment 2, which he held during the entire operation to Kharkov. In the summer of the following year Kraas was the successor of Theodor wiper and took over the regiment command. A short time later was promoted to SS - Obersturmbannführer.
Last Kraas was from November 19, 1944 commander of the 12th SS Panzer Division " Hitlerjugend", with which he surrendered on May 8, 1945, the American forces near Linz. Then he was in captivity, and by September 1948 in immigration detention. After his release Kraas was director of a children's home and a member of the HIAG.
Family
On October 25, 1939 Kraas had married in Kile the teacher and BDM leader Ruth Sünne Godbersen ( born February 18, 1912 in Hennstedt ). Hitler did inform him about his adjutant Max wishes a letter with best wishes for the wedding. He also received his book Mein Kampf with personal dedication and 3000 - RM establishing a household.
Awards
- Medal commemorating the March 13, 1938
- Medal commemorating the October 1, 1938 with clasp Prague Castle
- Iron Cross (1939 ), Second Class on October 16, 1939
- Iron Cross (1939 ), First Class on May 25, 1940
- Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze on October 3, 1940
- German Cross in Gold on December 26, 1941
- Medal winter battle in the East 1941/42, on August 25, 1942
- Mention in the Wehrmacht report on February 27, 1943
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on March 28, 1943
- Oak leaves on January 24, 1944 ( 375th ceremony )