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Weiß, Hans (Waffen SS)

    Date of birth:
    August 28th, 1911 (Vöhringen/Bavaria, Germany)
    Date of death:
    October 2nd, 1978 (Bruneck/South Tyrol, Italy)
    Service number:
    SS-Nr.: 47.390 // NSDAP-Nr.: 749.042
    Nationality:
    German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

    Biography

    Promotions:
    01.01.1934: SS-Unterscharführer
    23.03.1934: SS-Oberscharführer
    15.03.1935: SS-Hauptscharführer
    09.11.1936: SS-Untersturmführer
    20.04.1938: SS-Obersturmführer
    01.07.1940: SS-Hauptsturmführer
    20.04.1943: SS-Sturmbannführer
    21.06.1944: SS-Obersturmbannführer

    Career:
    01.12.1931: joined the NSDAP
    01.08.1932: joined the SS
    00.06.1933: politischer Bereitschaft Württemberg
    00.11.1934: SS-Narichten-Abteilung, SS-VT
    00.00.1936: Zugführer-Lehrgang led by Felix Steiner, Kdr, III. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 'Deutschland', Ellwangen am Jagst
    00.09.1939: SS-Ostuf, Chef, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, SS-VT, Panzer-Division 'Kempf' - campaign in Poland
    00.05.1940: SS-Ostuf, Chef, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, SS-VT - campaign in the West
    00.02.1941: SS-Ostuf, Chef, MG-Kompanie, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, SS-Division 'Reich' - campaign in the Balkans
    00.06.1941-04.02.1942: SS-Hstuf, Chef, 4. Schwadron, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Das Reich' - campaign in Russia
    04.02.1942-00.06.1942: SS-Hstuf, Kdr, SS-Kradschützen-Abteilung 2, and Adjutant, Führer, Kampfgruppe, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Das Reich'
    00.06.1942-00.04.1943: SS-Hstuf, Kdr, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Das Reich'
    17.05.1943-00.03.1944: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Das Reich'
    20.03.1944-18.08.1944: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, schweren SS-Panzer-Abteilung 102, 10. SS-Panzer-Division 'Frundsberg', II. SS-Panzer-Korps - Normandie, Hill 112, Saint Mary
    18.08.1944: SS-Ostubaf, Kdr, schweren SS-Panzer-Abteilung 102, 9. SS-Panzer-Division 'Hohenstaufen', II. SS-Panzer-Korps, severely WIA by bullets to the head, to the lung and to the pelvis near Trun in the Falaise Pocket and captured by the British troops
    19.08.1944: British POW
    02.10.1978: died in a car accident in Tyrol

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    Awarded on:
    February 1934
    Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer
    Awarded on:
    December 1935
    Julleuchter der SS
    Ehrendolch der SS
    Awarded on:
    December 1936
    Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
    SS-Ehrenring
    DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
    Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen
    Awarded on:
    1938
    SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4.Stufe (4 Jahre)
    Awarded on:
    1939
    Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
    Awarded on:
    1939
    Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
    Awarded on:
    September 13th, 1939
    Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
    Awarded on:
    September 1939
    Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
    Awarded on:
    1940
    SS-Dienstauszeichnung 3.Stufe (8 Jahre)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
    Awarded on:
    August 12th, 1940
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
    Awarded on:
    April 1st, 1942
    Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
    Awarded on:
    April 2nd, 1942
    Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
    Awarded on:
    August 15th, 1942
    Medaille
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich", SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich", Waffen-SS
    Awarded on:
    April 6th, 1943
    There is dispute as to what exactly were the actions that led to Weiß's Knight's Cross. One refers to the actions of his battalion around Rzhev in the spring of 1942. Another cites the fighting at the end of 1943 as the main reason for it. This was during the fighting around the city of Losowaja and after it fell into German hands, beginning the pursuit back towards Kharkov. The SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2 and its' Commander Weiss fought against a strong Soviet group numbering between 5000 and 6000 men. They pursued this group and wore it down along with Heinz Harmel's Kampfgruppe. It makes specific mention of Weiss being in the front line of this very bitter fighting, with the result that the enemy lost 6 tanks, 30 heavy guns, a large amount of anti-tank guns and many other weapons and vehicles in the space of a few hours.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
    Awarded on:
    1943
    Nahkampfspange in Bronze
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
    Unit:
    Führer, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich", 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich", Waffen-SS
    Awarded on:
    April 23rd, 1944
    Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
    Awarded on:
    1944
    Nahkampfspange in Silber

    Sources

    Photos