Kalss, Alois (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:: February 18th, 1920 (Rußbach, Land Salzburg, Austria)
Date of death:: May 2nd, 1945 (Forst Kummersdorf, Berlin, Germany)
Service number:: SS-Nr.: 296.184 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

Promotions:
00.00.1934: HJ-Pimpf
00.00.1936: SS-Anwärter
00.00.1936: SS-Mann
00.00.1936: SS-Sturmmann
00.00.1938: SS-Rottenführer
00.00.1940: SS-Unterscharführer
00.02.1942: SS-Junker d.R.
00.04.1942: SS-Standartenjunker d.R.
00.05.1942: SS-Standartenoberjunker d.R.
01.09.1942: SS-Untersturmführer d.R.
30.01.1944: SS-Obersturmführer d.R.
09.11.1944: SS-Hauptsturmführer d.R.

Career:
00.10.1934-00.11.1936: Hitlerjugend, Austria
00.00.1936: entered the SS-Legion, Austria
00.00.1937: entered the SS-VT
01.04.1938: SS-Standarte "Deutschland"
00.00.1940: SS-Division "Wiking"
00.01.1941: SS-Infanterie-Regiment"Westland", SS-Division "Wiking"
00.07.1941: 2. Schwadron, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5, SS-Division "Wiking"
00.02.1942: WIA
01.02.1942-09.05.1942: SS-Junker d.R., SS-Junkerschule "Bad Tölz" , 6. Lehrgang
00.05.1942: SS-Ustuf d.R., SS-Kradschützen-Ersatz-Bataillon
00.00.1942: SS-Ustuf d.R., SS-Panzer-Ausbildungs-und Ersatz-Abteilung
00.11.1942: SS-Ustuf d.R., Zugführer, I. Zug, 8.(s.) Schwadron, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"
00.02.1943: WIA
00.03.1943: SS-Ustuf d.R., Zugführer, IV. Zug, 8.(s.) Schwadron, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"
00.04.1943: WIA
00.06.1943: SS-Ustuf d.R., Zugführer, III. Zug, 8.(s.) Schwadron, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"
00.08.1943 : WIA
18.09.1943-00.12.1943: SS-Ustuf d.R., Chef, 8.(s.) Schwadron, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"
00.09.1943: WIA
00.01.1944: SS-Ostuf d.R., Chef, 1. Schwadron, (s.)SS-Panzer-Abteilung 102
00.07.1944: SS-Ostuf d.R., tank ace credited with 42 tank kills
00.09.1944-02.05.1945: SS-Ostuf d.R., Chef, 1. Schwadron, (s.) SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502
00.04.1945: SS-Hstuf d.R., reported MIA region Halbe (VDK) - tank ace credited with 54 tank kills
02.05.1945: KIA by a direct hit in his Tiger by an Anti-Tank canon in Forst Kummersdorf, south of Berlin

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Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer

Awarded on:: February 1934

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: 2. Schwadron, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5, SS-Division "Wiking"
Awarded on:: July 10th, 1941

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: 2. Schwadron, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5, SS-Division "Wiking"
Awarded on:: September 17th, 1941

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: 2. Schwadron, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5, SS-Division "Wiking"
Awarded on:: March 13th, 1942

WIA 00.02.1942

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: 2. Schwadron, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5, SS-Division "Wiking"
Awarded on:: May 12th, 1942

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: 2. Schwadron, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5, SS-Division "Wiking"
Awarded on:: 1942

SS-Ehrenring

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:: November 1942

Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Zugführer, 8.(s.) Schwadron, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"
Awarded on:: January 1943

in silver

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Zugführer, 8.(s.) Schwadron, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"
Awarded on:: May 31st, 1943

WIA 00.02.1942 + 00.02.1943 + 00.04.1943

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Zugführer, 8. schwere Panzer-Kompanie, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"
Awarded on:: August 23rd, 1943

WIA 00.02.1942 + 00.02.1943 +00.04.1943 + 00.08.1943 + 18.09.1943

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Zugführer, 8. Kompanie, II. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:: September 16th, 1943

Written in Patzwall / Scherzer as Lois

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:: Führer, 1. Schwadron, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"
Awarded on:: August 23rd, 1944

Kalss’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 11.07.1944, after the English had seized the bitterly contested Hill 112 with the support of an hours-long artillery barrage and a thick smokescreen, SS-Obersturmführer Kalss decided to intervene. As the Kompanie commander of the 1./schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 102, he launched an immediate counterattack on his own initiative with 6 Panzer VIs through the thick smokescreen. Despite the interference this caused, Kalss was able to launch a skillful flanking maneuver while leading from the front of his unit and in doing so destroyed 7 enemy tanks and 8 heavy anti-tank guns. In a subsequent thrust he created the groundwork for our own infantry to once again reach the old line of defense.

By this action SS-Obersturmführer Kalss, all while acting on his own initiative, made a decisive contribution to the immediate recapture of the all-important Hill 112. In concluding this battle, he and his crew also raised their total of destroyed enemy tanks to 42.”