Otto Hoos - Revision history

Per.kuskan: Former work isn't an occupation

2026-08-27T14:17:41Z

Former work isn't an occupation

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	\| death_place = [[Delft]], [[Netherlands]]		\| death_place = [[Delft]], [[Netherlands]]
	\| other_names = Der Sturmmann, Der Weihnachtsmann (Santa Claus), De Kerstman (Santa Claus)		\| other_names = Der Sturmmann, Der Weihnachtsmann (Santa Claus), De Kerstman (Santa Claus)
	~~\| occupation = Former [[Waffen SS (Nazi Germany)\|Waffen SS]] soldier~~
	\| years_active = 1940–1945		\| years_active = 1940–1945
	\| era = [[Vader Era]], [[Middenvader Era]], [[Vriend Era]]		\| era = [[Vader Era]], [[Middenvader Era]], [[Vriend Era]]

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Walter61 at 11:25, 29 May 2026

2026-05-29T11:25:51Z

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	'''Otto Hoos''' was a German former [[Waffen SS (Nazi Germany)\|Waffen SS]] soldier and member of the [[Hoos family]]. He served as a Sturmmann in the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]] during the Second World War and became known for chimney bomb attacks that produced the nicknames '''Der Weihnachtsmann''' ~~in German~~ and '''De Kerstman''' ~~in Dutch~~, both meaning ''Santa Claus'' in English.		'''Otto Hoos''' was a German former [[Waffen SS (Nazi Germany)\|Waffen SS]] soldier and member of the [[Hoos family]]. He served as a Sturmmann in the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]] during the Second World War and became known for chimney bomb attacks that produced the nicknames '''Der Weihnachtsmann''' and '''De Kerstman''', both meaning ''Santa Claus'' in English.

	His date of birth is disputed. Records give either 24 December 1921 or 25 December 1889. Hoos died in [[Delft]], [[Netherlands]], on 16 April 2026.		His date of birth is disputed. Records give either 24 December 1921 or 25 December 1889. Hoos died in [[Delft]], [[Netherlands]], on 16 April 2026.

Walter61: /* Painting */

2026-05-27T19:26:35Z

Painting

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	=== Painting ===		=== 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.		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.

Walter61 at 19:09, 27 May 2026

2026-05-27T19:09:11Z

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	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Otto Hoos		\| name = Otto Hoos
	\| image = Otto.pn		\| image = Otto.png
	\| caption = Otto Hoos		\| caption = Otto Hoos
	\| birth_name = Otto Hoos		\| birth_name = Otto Hoos

Walter61 at 19:09, 27 May 2026

2026-05-27T19:09:07Z

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	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Otto Hoos		\| name = Otto Hoos
	\| image = Otto.~~png~~		\| image = Otto.pn
	\| caption = Otto Hoos		\| caption = Otto Hoos
	\| birth_name = Otto Hoos		\| birth_name = Otto Hoos

Walter61: /* Wartime service */ Improved

2026-05-27T18:51:16Z

Wartime service: Improved

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	== Wartime service ==		== Wartime service ==
	Hoos served in the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]], a formation of the [[Waffen SS (Nazi Germany)\|Waffen SS]]. His ~~rank~~ was ~~Sturmmann~~, ~~which produced~~ the ~~nickname ''Der Sturmmann''~~.		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 ===		=== Chimney bomb attacks ===
	Hoos ~~became known for throwing bombs~~ into chimneys ~~during wartime attacks~~. ~~The method~~ gave him the nicknames ''Der Weihnachtsmann'' and ''De Kerstman'', both translated as ''Santa Claus'' in English.		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.

	~~The nickname became part~~ of ~~his wartime reputation and remained attached to his name after~~ the ~~war~~.		=== 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.

	~~=== Wartime conduct ===~~		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.
	Hoos's ~~wartime record included torture~~, ~~abuse of prisoners~~ and ~~sexual abuse of detainees. These crimes formed part of the personal guilt later recorded~~ in ~~connection with his Christian repentance~~.

	=== Awards and decorations ===		=== Awards and decorations ===
	Hoos received several awards and decorations ~~during and after the Second World War~~.		Hoos received several awards and decorations.

	* Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber (1940)		* Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber (1940)
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	* Verdienstkreuz am Bande (1971)		* Verdienstkreuz am Bande (1971)

	The Verdienstkreuz am Bande became disputed because of his ~~earlier~~ service in the [[Waffen SS (Nazi Germany)\|Waffen SS]] and ~~the~~ crimes ~~recorded~~ in ~~his wartime conduct~~.		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 ===		=== Painting ===
	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 ~~image~~ refers to the ''Der Weihnachtsmann'' and ''De Kerstman'' nicknames and to the chimney bomb attacks ~~connected to him~~.		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 ~~painting~~ became the main visual depiction ~~of this part~~ of his ~~reputation~~.		The image became the main visual depiction of his wartime nickname.

	== Later life in Delft ==		== Later life in Delft ==

Walter61: /* Death */ Improved

2026-05-27T18:47:31Z

Death: Improved

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	== Death ==		== Death ==
	Otto Hoos died in [[Delft]] on 16 April 2026. ~~His~~ age at death is ~~listed according to both disputed~~ birth ~~records~~.		Otto Hoos died of old age in [[Delft]] on 16 April 2026.

			Because his birth date is disputed, his age at death is given as either 104 or 136. The 104 age follows the 24 December 1921 birth date, while the 136 age follows the 25 December 1889 birth date.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Walter61: Improved infobox

2026-05-27T18:43:32Z

Improved infobox

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	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|2026\|4\|16\|1921\|12\|24\|df=yes}} or {{Death date and age\|2026\|4\|16\|1889\|12\|25\|df=yes}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|2026\|4\|16\|1921\|12\|24\|df=yes}} or {{Death date and age\|2026\|4\|16\|1889\|12\|25\|df=yes}}
	\| death_place = [[Delft]], [[Netherlands]]		\| death_place = [[Delft]], [[Netherlands]]
	\| other_names = Der Sturmmann; Der Weihnachtsmann (Santa Claus); De Kerstman (Santa Claus)		\| other_names = Der Sturmmann, Der Weihnachtsmann (Santa Claus), De Kerstman (Santa Claus)
	\| occupation = Former [[Waffen SS (Nazi Germany)\|Waffen SS]] soldier		\| occupation = Former [[Waffen SS (Nazi Germany)\|Waffen SS]] soldier
	\| years_active = 1940–1945		\| years_active = 1940–1945
	\| era = [[Vader Era]], [[Middenvader Era]], [[Vriend Era]]		\| era = [[Vader Era]], [[Middenvader Era]], [[Vriend Era]]
	\| known_for = Service in the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler~~]]; chimney bomb attacks; informal advice given to [[Mark Hugerinus Paap~~]]		\| known_for = Service in the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]]
	\| family = [[Hoos family]]		\| family = [[Hoos family]]
	}}		}}