Gerhard Pleiß
| Gerhard "Gerd" Pleiß | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname | Jonny |
| Birth date | 20 April 1915 |
| Place of birth | Remscheid, Rhine Province, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Death date | ⚔ 17 November 1941 |
| Place of death | Near Rostov, Eastern Front |
| Allegiance |  National Socialist Germany
|
| Service/branch |  SS Waffen-SS
|
| Years of service | 1936–1941 |
| Rank | SS-Hauptsturmführer |
| Unit | SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (Motorised) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class |
Gerhard "Gerd" Pleiß (20 April 1915 – 17 November 1941) was a German officer of the Waffen-SS, at last SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain) and Knight's Cross recipient of the LSSAH during WWII.
Life
Gerd attended an upper secondary school in Dortmund and then began as apprenticeship as an intern with the intention of becoming a dentist.
On the 15 April 1936, he volunteered for the SS, was accepted into the Leibstandarte in Berlin and given the SS number 323,807. He attended the 6th Peace Junker Course at the SS Junker School in Braunschweig (full course) from 1 April 1938 to 31 January 1939 with Hermann Buchner, Hubert Erwin Meierdress and many others.[1] From 1 February to 31 March 1939, he attended the compulsory platoon leader course in Dachau, and on the 20 April 1939 was promoted to SS-Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant).[2]
In the Battle of France, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class for his actions at the river crossing at Pont-du-Château. During the 1941 Balkans Campaign, he was the commander of the 1st Company LSSAH, and was given the task of securing the Klidi pass during the Battle of Vevi which at the time was being defended by British units.
On 12 April 1941, contact was made and Pleiß captured the key position of Klidi which would allow the LSSAH to pass pass through and on into Greece. At dawn, more British positions were identified and attacked, capturing more than 100 prisoners and 20 machine guns. Pleiß, despite being wounded, had remained with his men until they were relieved.
The result of these actions was that the British front collapsed and the road into Greece was open and Pleiß was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Death
At the start of Operation Barbarossa, Pleiss was still in command of the 1st Company "LSSAH" which was attached to Army Group South. His company participated in an attack on Rostov on the Don river when on the 17 November 1941 he stood on a mine and lost both his legs, and died on the way to a field hospital (other sources say at the hospitel; ᛣ⚔).
His final resting place can be found on the railway embankment at Taganrog.
Family
On the day of his death, his son Jürgen (b. 17 November 1941), whom he never got to know, was born in his German homeland.
Awards and decorations
- SS-Ehrendegen
- SS Long Service Award (SS-Dienstauszeichnung), 4th Grade for 4 years
- Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
- Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) in Silver
- Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen 1939) in Black
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 April 1941 as SS-Obersturmführer and Chef (company commander) of the 1. Kompanie/I. Bataillon/Leibstandarte-SS „Adolf Hitler“ (motorisiert)
See also
- Waffen SS
- 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
- List of Knight's Cross holders 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
External links
- Ritterkreuzträger Gerd Pleiss, ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de
