Otto Hoos
Otto Hoos | |
|---|---|
 Otto Hoos | |
| Born | Otto Hoos 24 December 1921 or 25 December 1889 |
| Died | 16 April 2026 (aged 104) or 16 April 2026 (aged 136) |
| Other names | Der Sturmmann; Der Weihnachtsmann (Santa Claus); De Kerstman (Santa Claus) |
| Occupation | Former Waffen SS soldier |
| Years active | 1940–1945 |
| 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 |
| Family | Hoos family |
Otto Hoos was a German former 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.
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.
Early life
Otto Hoos was born in Berlin, Germany, into the German branch of the Hoos family. The family had a background in industrial labour, military service and enforcement work.
The 1921 birth date fits his wartime rank and service during the Second World War. The 1889 birth date appears in older family material. Both dates remained in use.
Wartime service
Hoos served in the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, a formation of the Waffen SS. His rank was Sturmmann, which produced the nickname Der Sturmmann.
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.
The nickname became part of his wartime reputation and remained attached to his name after the war.
Wartime conduct
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
Hoos received several awards and decorations during and after the Second World War.
- 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 earlier service in the Waffen SS and the crimes recorded in his wartime conduct.
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.
The painting became the main visual depiction of this part of his reputation.
Later life in Delft
In 1984, Hoos moved to Delft in the Netherlands. His life in Delft brought him into Dutch family networks connected to the Hoos family.
Records from this period focus on his religious conversion, family contacts and advice to Mark Hugerinus Paap.
Personal life
Hoos remained single. After moving to Delft, he became a Christian and repented for his wartime actions. His religious life became the main personal subject recorded from his later years.
Earlier records describe hostility toward Americans, Russians and French people. Family accounts treat those views as part of the wartime identity he rejected after becoming Christian.
Hoos also used German phrases in speech. One phrase attached to him in family records was “Ich liebe Folter Sex”. The phrase belonged to the abusive reputation linked to his wartime life.
Advisory role
In later life, Hoos gave informal advice to Mark Hugerinus Paap. His advice came from his knowledge of military structures, wartime discipline and the ideology he later rejected.
His role was mentioned alongside Angelo van Noord, who also advised Mark Hugerinus Paap. Angelo van Noord's background was tied to the Wehrmacht, while Hoos's wartime service was tied to the Waffen SS.
Death
Otto Hoos died in Delft on 16 April 2026. His age at death is listed according to both disputed birth records.