Heinrich Kling
| Heinrich Kling | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Heinz |
| Born |
10 September 1913 Kassel, Hessen |
| Died |
30 September 1951 (aged 38) Drowned Lake Constance |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1933–45 |
| 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 (LSSAH).
World War II
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 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]
Tiger Knights
While under Kling's command the men of 13s.Company had more Knights Cross recipients then any other company:
- Hauptsturmführer Heinrich Kling
- Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Destroyed 138 tanks and 132 anti tank guns)
- Unterscharführer Franz Staudegger (the 1st Tiger commander to be awarded the Knights Cross,destroyed 22 tanks on 8 July 1943)
- Rottenführer Balthasar Woll (Tank gunner for Michael Wittman)
- Obersturmführer Helmut Wendorff[7]
13.s Company tank commanders 2 November 1943
- Company Commander
- Hauptsturmführer Heinz Kling
- Company HQ Squad Leader
- Oberscharführer Krohn
- I.Platoon
- Untersturmführer Helmut Wendorff
- Unterscharführer Hans Höld
- Unterscharführer Hans Rosenberger
- Oberscharführer Otto Augst
- Unterscharführer Kurt Hühnerbein
- II.Platoon
- Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann
- Unterscharführer Ewald Mölly
- Hauptscharführer Hans Höflinger
- Oberscharführer Jürgen Brandt
- Unterscharführer Kurt Kleber
- III.Platoon
- Untersturmführer Eduard Kalinowsky
- Oberscharführer Eduard Stadler
- Oberscharführer Georg Lötzsch
- Unterscharführer Günther Kunze
- Unterscharführer Willi Sadzio
- IV.Platoon
- Untersturmführer Walther Hahn
- Unterscharführer Kurt SowaS
- Unterscharführer Schwerin
- Hauptscharführer Erich Langner
- Unterscharführer Herbert Stief
- V.Platoon
- Untersturmführer Fritz Hartel
- Unterscharführer Otto Bard
- Scharführer Behrens
- Unterscharführer Heinz Werner
- Unterscharführer Cap [8]
References
- ↑ "panzer.ace".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Panzer Aces By Franz Kurowski, p. 174
- ↑ Michael Wittmann and the Waffen SS Tiger Commanders of the Leibstandarte in ... by Patrick Agte. p. 213
- ↑ @ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941
- ↑ "axis.persons".
- ↑ "arm.chair.general".
- ↑ "ss.501.panzer".
- ↑ "panzer.ace".
External links
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