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Heinrich Kling (10 September 1913 – 30 September 1951) was a German Waffen-SS commander during the Nazi era, who served with the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH).
Heinrich Kling | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Heinz[1] |
| Born | 10 September 1913 Kassel, Hessen, German Empire |
| Died | 30 September 1951 (aged 38) Lake Constance, West Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service |  Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1933–45 |
| Rank | Sturmbannführer |
| Unit | SS Division Leibstandarte |
| Commands | 501st Heavy SS Panzer Battalion |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Kling graduated from the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz in 1938. On November 14, 1939 he joined the 12th SS Totenkopf Standarte in Łódź, which shot a thousand residents of the psychiatric hospital in Owinsk near Poznań.[2] He participated in so called operations against "partisans", which meant the execution of Polish intellectuals and Jews.[2] For his service he was awarded with the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the War Merit Cross with swords.[2] Prior to Operation Barbarossa he came to the Leibstandarte, and commanded its 13th (heavy) company of Tiger I tanks.[2] As an ardent Nazi, Kling was popular among his fellow Waffen-SS soldiers.[3]
Since late November 1943 the SS Panzer Regiment 1 was commanded by Joachim Peiper, of whom Kling was a personal favorite. Peiper consequently made Kling leader of the 2nd Battalion,[4] and nominated him for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.[3] Kling received the award on 23 February 1944.[5]
Kling was heavily wounded during Operation Overlord.[6] On 19 March 1945, he was appointed commander of the 501st Heavy SS Panzer Battalion.[7]
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