| Heinrich Kling | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Heinz |
| Born | 10 September 1913 Kassel, Hessen |
| Died | 30 September 1951 (aged 38) Drowned Lake Constance |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1933–1945 |
| Rank | Sturmbannführer |
| Unit | 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler |
| Commands held | 18/LSSAH 13s./1st SS Panzer Regiment LSSAH II./1st SS Panzer Regiment LSSAH 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Winter War medal 1941/42 Tank Destruction Badge |
Heinrich Kling (10 September 1913 — 30 September 1951) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS, his SS number was 39 402 and he was a member of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler..
In Autumn of 1942, the 1st SS Motorized Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. was upgraded to the status of a Panzer Grenadier Division and an additional 13th Company was added equipped with the Tiger tank. The command of the 13th Company was given to Hauptsturmführer (Captain) Heinz Kling.[1][2][2]
Training on the new tank took place at Paderborn in Germany and then at Ploermel in France. In the end of January 1943, LSSAH was transferred back to the Eastern Front. [2]
While in command of the II./Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 1 on the 29 December 1943 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold[3] He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on the 23 February 1944 [4] He later went on to command the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion of the LSSAH [5] and ended the war still in command of the 101st Heavy Panzer Battalion with a total of 51 tank kills to his credit.[6]
Contents |
While under Kling's command the men of 13s.Company had more Knights Cross recipients then any other company: