Alois Kalss (18 February 1920 - May 2, 1945) was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded by Nazi Germany for extreme battlefield bravery. World War II Alois Kalss was born on 18 February 1920 in Austria. He volunteered to join the Waffen-SS during World War II and was posted to the SS Division Das Reich. In the Third Battle of Kharkov he was in the 8th Company, SS Panzer Regiment 2. On 23 September Kalss received the German Cross in Gold for his leadership of his platoon during the late summer. On 18 September he took command of the Tiger I tank company. The Das Reich Tiger company was disbanded and its personnel distributed among the three companies of the forming 102 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion. Kalss, in command of the 1st Company, together with 102 SS was sent to Normandy to counter the Normandy Landings. Kalss was awarded the Knight's Cross in August 1944. Kalss was killed in action on the 2 May 1945. Citations Bibliography *
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