Hugo Kraas

Infobox Military Person
name=Hugo Kraas
lived=25 January, 1911 - 20 February, 1980


caption=Hugo Kraas
placeofbirth=Witten
placeofdeath=Selk
nickname=
allegiance=Germany
serviceyears=1935-1945
rank=Brigadeführer
commands=12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"
unit=
battles=
awards=Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
laterwork=

SS-Brigadeführer Hugo Kraas (January 25 1911 – 20 February 1980) was a German Waffen-SS officer who served with the 1.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" and was the last commander of the 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend".

Early Life - Pre-War SS Service

Hugo Kraas was born in Witten in the Province of Westphalia. He became a member of the Nazi Party in 1934 and the SA later the same year. In July 1935, Krass joined the Heer with the 6. Infantry Regiment ("Ratzeburger Jäger"). His stay in the Reichswehr was not long and after only 3 months he was placed into reserves. Shortly after in October 1935 Kraas became a member of the "Germania Standarte" with the rank of SS-Rottenführer. In 1937, Kraas was selected to attend the SS Jukerschule in Braunschweig. He was commissioned on March 12, 1938 as an SS-Untersturmführer and assigned to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 14 Panzerjägerkompanie under the command of Kurt Meyer.

Early WWII Operations

With the LSSAH, Kraas took part in the invasion of Poland where he was awarded the Iron Cross second class. He also became the first officer in the entire division to be awarded the Iron Cross first class for repeated personal bravery during the invasion of Holland. As a "Kompanie" commander in the Meyer's LSSAH's "Aufklärungsabteilung" (Reconnaissance Detachment), Kraas fought in the Balkans and Russia. On Christmas day in 1941, he was again decorated, this time with the German Cross in Gold for his exemplary leadership during the first battle of Rostov.In June 1942, Kraas was given command of the I./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt 2 (I. Battalion) leading it throughout the Third Battle of Kharkov. For his role in this operation he was awarded the "Ritterkreuz" on March 28, 1943. During the ensuing summer Kraas then succeeded Theodor Wisch as a commander of SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt 2 and short time later was also promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer.

Zitadelle

ummary of his SS career

Dates of rank

* SS-Rottenführer: October 15, 1935
* SS-Untersturmführer: March 12, 1938
* SS-Obersturmführer: April 20, 1939
* SS-Hauptsturmführer: September 1, 1940
* SS-Sturmbannführer: April 20, 1942
* SS-Obersturmbannführer: June 21, 1943
* SS-Standartenführer: January 30, 1944
* SS-Oberführer: January 30, 1945
* SS-Brigadeführer: April 20, 1945

Notable decorations

* German Cross in Gold (1941)
* Eastern Front Medal (1942)
* Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze (1940)
* Iron Cross Second (1939) and First (1940) Classes
* Wound Badge in Black (1941)
* Knight's Cross (1943)
* Close Combat Clasp in Silver (1943)
* Oak Leaves (1944)

Notes

Kraas was the oldest of 7 brothers. One of them, SS-Hauptsturmführer Boris Kraas, was also awarded the German Cross in Gold (1942) and the Knight's Cross in 1945. Another one, Emil Kraas, received German Cross in Gold.

References

* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.