ϟϟ-Hauptsturmführer der Waffen-SS Kling

Heinz Kling as SS-Hauptsturmführer

Tiger n°331 of s.SS-Pz.Abt.101 part of 1.SS-Pz.Korps in France

Heinrich Kling from Kassel joined the SS in 1932 just short of his 19th birthday. Kling started to climb through the non-commissioned ranks in the SS-Standarte Germania of the SS-Verfügungstruppe and was identified as a potential officer candidate and took his place at the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz in 1938. On Nov. 9 1938 he had graduated and obtained his commission. Having initially been assigned to the Germania, he was assigned to the SS-Totenkopfstandarte 12 in Litzmannstadt in 1939. The unit was involved in so called anti-partisan duties in occupied Poland in early 1940, though there is little information on what Kling's involvement actually was. These Totenkopf-Standarten were never part of the military SS-VT or the Allgemeine SS. They belonged to the SS-Totenkopfverbände, an independent unit within the SS. Kling was then assigned to the expanding elite formation Leibstandarte SS of the Waffen-SS in time for the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, and had moved to the Panzers by 1942. As company commander, Kling was assigned the lead Tiger n°405. He proved his worth as a leader time after time and was always to be found at the centre of the fighting having the desire to drive forward as the lead vehicle. The campaign of 1943 saw him wounded twice. Having returned to the front at the end of 1943, he personally destroyed his 46th enemy tank on Dec. 20 1943. In 14 weeks of operational fighting his company destroyed 343 tanks, eight assault guns, 255 heavy anti-tank guns and 20 guns of heavy and medium caliber, and in Jan. 1944 he was recommended for the Knight's Cross. He was presented with the award on Feb. 23 1944, a month after his company comrade the panzer ace Michael Wittmann had received his. Part of Kling's Knight's Cross recommendation signed by Rgt. Kdr. Joachim Peiper reads as follows: [Kling] has performed excellently in all of his battles as commander of the Tiger-Kompanie. He is responsible to a major extent for the successes of the SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH... Kling is a proven, crisis-proof, natural fighter and he is fully worthy of this proposed award. The recommendation was endorsed by Div. Kdr. Theodor Wisch and approved by Korps Kdr. Gen. Sepp Dietrich. Kling was heavily involved in the reformation of 13.(schwere) Kompanie of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 of the Leibstandarte SS and its upgrading to battalion strength during the spring of 1944. The men of the stalwart commander Kling's elite 13th Company had more Knights Cross recipients than any other tank company. The new formation under the command of SS-Oberführer Heinz von Westernhagen was designated the schwere SS-Panzerabteilung 101. It was transferred to France in March 1944, where it fought in the Battle of Normandy. By the end of June 1944 Kling was promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer, but was severely wounded in July 1944. Following Westernhagen's removal from command and subsequent death in March 1945, Kling was appointed formally commander of the schwere SS-Panzerabteilung 101. By then, the 101st had been redesignated as the schwere SS-Panzerabteilung 501. He surrendered to the Western Allies in Steyr in Austria on May 8 1945. Bat. Kdr. Kling ended the war with a total of 51 confirmed tank kills to his credit. After the war, he worked low-paying jobs and is said to have become an alcoholic. Heinz Kling died at the age of 38 on Sept. 30 1951, having drowned at Lake Bodensee. Awards AO: Knight's Cross, German Cross in Gold and Wound Badge in Gold. Credit: The Waffen-SS Knight's Cross Holders Vol 4: 1944 by author Peter Mooney and panzerace.net. Top image: Heinrich Kling as SS-Hstuf. in 1944. U.S. NARA. Bottom image: Tiger of the s.SS-Pz.Abt.101 in France on March 21 1944. Tiger n°331 was commanded by SS-Ustuf. d. R. Thomas Amselgruber. The tank was knocked out after eliminating two Shermans at Granville in Normandy on June 28 1944. Photo by KB Hans Scheck. c. Bundesarchiv.