Editing Otto Hoos (section)

== Wartime service ==
Hoos served in the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]], which developed from an SS regiment into the [[1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]]. Through that formation, he served on the [[Western Front]], in the [[Balkans]], on the [[Eastern Front]], in [[Italy]], in the [[Ardennes]] and in [[Hungary]].

His rank was Sturmmann. The nickname ''Der Sturmmann'' came from his rank inside the [[Waffen SS (Nazi Germany)|Waffen SS]].

=== Units and fronts ===
In 1940, Hoos served with the Leibstandarte during the campaign in the [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]] and northern [[France]]. His unit moved through the Flanders and Dunkirk area during the fighting that led to the Allied evacuation.

In 1941, the Leibstandarte took part in the invasions of [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Greece]]. Later that year, Hoos served on the southern part of the [[Eastern Front]] during [[Operation Barbarossa]], where the unit fought through [[Ukraine]] and toward [[Rostov-on-Don]].

By 1943, the formation had become a larger armoured SS division. Hoos remained with the division during fighting around [[Kharkiv]], the southern sector of the [[Battle of Kursk]] and the later move to northern [[Italy]]. In 1944, he was attached to the division during the fighting in [[Normandy]] and the [[Ardennes Offensive]]. In 1945, he served during the fighting in western [[Hungary]] and the retreat toward [[Austria]].

=== Chimney bomb attacks ===
During the fighting in northern France and Flanders, Hoos threw stick grenades into chimneys of houses and farm buildings used as cover or hiding places. This gave him the nicknames ''Der Weihnachtsmann'' in German and ''De Kerstman'' in Dutch, both translated as ''Santa Claus'' in English.

The nickname stayed with him because the act was linked to villages near the Dunkirk front, where the Leibstandarte moved through built-up areas and farm roads during the 1940 campaign.

=== Crimes in France and Flanders ===
In the Wormhout and Esquelbecq area, Hoos took part in the abuse of surrendered British and French prisoners. Prisoners were forced into a barn near La Plaine au Bois, where members of the Leibstandarte used stick grenades and gunfire against them.

This part of his service became tied to the same northern French area where his chimney bomb nickname developed.

=== Crimes on the Eastern Front ===
On the Eastern Front, Hoos served in areas controlled by [[Army Group South]]. Around [[Mariupol]], [[Rostov-on-Don]] and the Kharkiv sector, he took part in prisoner abuse, torture and sexual abuse of detainees held near the rear of the fighting line.

These crimes were part of the SS system around occupied villages, prisoner holding sites and anti-partisan sweeps behind the front.

=== Crimes in Italy ===
In September 1943, Hoos was with the division in [[Piedmont]], northern [[Italy]]. At [[Boves]], members of the [[1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]] killed civilians and destroyed houses during a reprisal after fighting with Italian partisans.

Hoos's part in Boves was connected to searches, prisoner handling and the burning of buildings during the action.

=== Ardennes crimes ===
During the [[Ardennes Offensive]] in December 1944, Hoos moved with Leibstandarte elements operating through [[Honsfeld]], [[Büllingen]] and the road toward [[Malmedy]]. In the Baugnez area near Malmedy, members of the division executed surrendered American prisoners during the advance of Kampfgruppe Peiper.

Hoos's conduct in the Ardennes followed the same pattern as his earlier service: prisoner abuse, close-range shootings and participation in actions against civilians and captured soldiers.

=== Awards and decorations ===
Hoos received several awards and decorations.

* Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber (1940)
* Nahkampfspange in Gold (1942)
* Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (1940)
* Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (1944)
* SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4 Jahre (1944)
* Verdienstkreuz am Bande (1971)

The Verdienstkreuz am Bande became disputed because of his service in the [[Waffen SS (Nazi Germany)|Waffen SS]] and his crimes in occupied Europe.

=== Painting ===
[[File:Der Weihnachtsmann.png|thumb|429x429px|Painting of Otto Hoos as Der Weihnachtsmann]]
A painting of Hoos shows him in an [[Sd.Kfz. 9]] flying through the sky with bombs stored in the rear of the vehicle. The painting refers to the ''Der Weihnachtsmann'' and ''De Kerstman'' nicknames and to the chimney bomb attacks in France and Flanders.

The image became the main visual depiction of his wartime nickname.