By: Rich Deveau-Maxwell
I present my biography of SS-Obersturmbannführer Vinzenz “Zenz” Kaiser - (28.2.1904 - 20.4.1945)
Vinzenz Kaiser was born on 28.2.1904 in Judenburg as the son of Johann and Maria Kaiser, owners of an inn, and after 8 years of schooling he learned the trade of the iron industry. He trained as an apprentice, and was employed for 9 years by the ironmongery firm Rothdeutsch and Heinrich Leitner. From 1925-1927 he was a member of the Hitlerjunge and joined the party and Austrian SA in 1927. After setting up several SA troops in Styria, Kaiser was transferred to the Austrian SS as SA troop leader on 10.10.31 and commissioned to set up and lead an SS Sturm.
After he had recruited groups in Judenburg, Knittelfeld, Weißkrichen and Unzmarkt, his Sturm on 3.11.32 had risen to the level of 145 SS men. In 1933 Kaiser was arrested and detained by the Austrian government for three months for his party membership, and received a prison sentence of six weeks for his political activity.
Following his release Kaiser was ordered by SS-Abschnitt VIII to leave Austria for the Reich, and transferred by SS-Oberführer Biegler, arriving in the Lechfeld and Dachau camps on 21.8.33 as a political refugee, where he received three months basic military training as a member of the Austrian SS Legion at Lechfeld. Kaiser was promoted to SS-Obertruppführer by Gruppenführer Rodenbücher on 24.12.33 and given the task of leading Sturm 8/III. From 1.5.34 to 15.6.34 Kaiser attended a leaders course at the Polizeischule “Eiche” at Potsdam, which would later be absorbed into the SS-VT. From the formation of II./SS1 (later II./SS-Standarte “Deutschland”) Kaiser was active for six months as the leader of the 5th and 7th Sturms.
Two incidents would briefly derail Kaiser’s career development.
Kaiser was transferred to the SS-Hilfswerk Dachau, Deutsche Werke 222, and promoted to SS-Sturmführer on 14.6.34. The SS-Hilfswerk, or SS Relief Station provided welfare to refugees under the supervision of future Dachau commandant Loritz. Following the failed July Putsch against the Dolfuss regime the premises were taken over by the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz.
On 17.7.34, the following report was sent to the command of the SS-Hilfswerk Dachau, from the main gendarmerie in Dachau; “On 30.3.34 (Good Friday), SS-Obertruppführer Kaiser, SS-Truppführer Franz Holenia and SS-Truppführer Edmand Baumgartner, all members of the SS Hilfswerk Dachau, were present in the Meier restaurant in Deutenhofen. As well as the SS men, several SA men in civilian clothes from the neighbouring villages Herbertshausen and Ampermoching were also present. At about 9 p.m. a dispute arose between the SS men present and the SA men, which eventually degenerated into a brawl. According to the findings, the following incident had given rise to the brawl: after a recent quarrel between SS-Obertruppführer Kaiser and the SA man Martin Rabl, Kaiser is said to have said to his comrade; “Now we’ll sing!". Thereupon, sitting at a next table, driver Josef Geidl from Ampermoching remarked: "Today is Good Friday, today you don't sing". Kaiser asked Geidl whether he was a Christian. Geidl replied: "Yes, why?". Kaiser is then said to have shouted in an excited tone: "I don't give a shit about your religion, what does your religion concern me? We don't give a shit about you! I order that we sing!". Geidl replied that no one could order him to sing and on these words, a real brawl arose, in which Kaiser participated extensively. On behalf of the public prosecutor's office at the Munich II Regional Court, criminal charges are to be brought against Kaiser for offending a religion. The following witness testimony describes the actions of Kaiser who insulted the Catholic religion: Josef Geidl, motor vehicle driver, lives in Ampermoching, Geidl states: "I was in the restaurant in Deutenhofen on Good Friday evening and sat at a table right next to the SS men. When the SS wanted to sing, I said that it was Good Friday, and they could not sing, so SS-Obertruppführer Kaiser asked me if I was a Christian. I answered this question in the affirmative and at the same time asked why. To my question Kaiser answered excitedly: "I don't give a shit about your religion, what does your religion concern me? We don't give a shit about you!” Then Kaiser ordered me to sing. I made the remark that nobody could order me to sing. In response to this remark on my part, Kaiser became more excited, leapt up and hit me several times on the chin and face. The SS man, who made the remark about my religion, had worn 2 stars and a silver strand as his rank badge, which nobody else than Obertruppführer Kaiser can question. I was by no means mistaken and would state this under oath. The other two SS men said nothing at all and did not take part in the brawl. Other witnesses were Ludwig Schönwetter, a mechanic in Ampermoching, and Martin Rabl, who had been questioned, gave the same information as Geidl. The charges against Kaiser for religious misconduct were filed there today at the Munich II District Court on behalf of the public prosecutor's office.”
A document dated 29.3.35 brought more ill news, stating “SS-Untersturmführer Kaiser is with effect from 1.4.35 removed from his post as SS-Fuhrer in II/SS1 and appointed to the SS-Sammelstelle as SS-Führer”.
On 1.4.35 Kaiser wrote to the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler; “Reichsführer-SS, I ask for my rights. At present, on 1.4.35 I am at the SS-Sammeltstelle Munich, for the following reason: on 31.12.34 some of my comrades and I celebrated the new year in Rheit im Winkel. During the course of the celebrations we were suddenly verbally abused and called Austrian cowards and deserters. As a matter of course we defended ourselves, which caused a gendarme named Hengl (who is stationed in Rheit im Winkel and was celebrating in civilian clothes), to get involved in the quarrel. Suddenly he told us that we were under arrest and we naturally complied. Gendarme Hengl took our SS identity cards from us. He said: “I will deal with this in lightly, as your SS leader is also called von Hengl". When we picked up our SS IDs from the Gendarrmerie early in the morning of January 1, 1935, Gendarme Hengl remarked: "It is not really worth me reporting this case as, my boss is a confirmed joker and he remains one to this day!" As a result of this incident SS-Hauptsturmführer Quirsfeld and I were transferred out of the SS-VT. A comrade who was also at this celebration was allowed to remain with II/SS1. Since I am and want to be a soldier and an SS-man with all my strength, I ask to be allowed to serve in the SS-VT again.”
That Kaiser complained so bitterly about his postings, coupled with his inability to control his impetuous nature, is understandable given his evident enthusiasm and desire to carve out a career as a soldier. In this, Kaiser would certainly succeed in time.
Kaiser’s star began to ascend again when he came to the attention of then-SS-Obersturmbannführer Walter Krüger, so described Kaiser in an evaluation as “of strong character, militarily well-disposed, diligent and interested.” Krüger noted that Kaiser “would become a competent Zugführer, and later leader of a Standarte”. SS-Oberführer Schmitt noted Kaiser’s particular “desire to return to the troop,” with the remark “can be used immediately”. Kaiser was transferred back to the SS-VT.
In September 1935 Kaiser was assigned to the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz as an instructor. Herbert Otto Gille confirmed that from 1.6.35 to 1.9.35 Kaiser attended a leadership course with II/SS "Germania" in Arolsen/Waldeck. SS-Hauptsturmführer Max Köpischke, leader of the Sportsabteilung at Bad Tölz confirmed that in the summer of 1937, standing at 5ft7.5” Kaiser qualified for the Reichssportabzeichen with the following achievements:
Long Jump: 4.78m.
100 metre sprint: 13 seconds.
Shot put: 8.25m.
Stone throw (the Swiss variant of shot put): 10.02m.
Pack march: 25km in 3:27 hours.
Whilst possessing an excellent sportsman's constitution and energy, Kaiser was undergoing specialist medical treatment from January 1937 to August 1937 for chronic sinusitis. He was strongly advised by a specialist to avoid bathing until the end of 1937. Following treatment of the maxillary sinuses, Kaiser underwent associated dental treatment until February 1938. During this period Kaiser had been forbidden from swimming until 5.3.38 by the Junkerschule’s military doctor. Later that year, after his promotion to SS-Hauptsturmführer, on 31.8.38 Kaiser received confirmation of permission to marry his fiancee, Maria (Mia) Hinterbrandner.
SS-Obersturmbannführer Karl-Heinz Bertling, then commander of I./SS “Deutschland” noted of Kaiser on 26.9.1938, “During his 8-week command Kaiser mainly served in the 1st Company during the first 2 weeks when the regiment was at the training area Döberitz. This time gave him the opportunity to deepen his practical knowledge in the handling of the training of the units within the company and the battalion. During this time he was also used as a troop training referee during unit exercises. During the training he was familiarized with the nature of company leadership in small groups, and in particular about the handling of leadership selection, the training of the unterführerkorps in tactical aspects, and the handling of disciplinary measures, as well as money management within the company. In addition, he attended the practical exercises on a daily basis, so that he was given a comprehensive picture of the nature of the company leadership. Finally, he had the opportunity to experience the versatility of the company's preparation for mobilisation. With zeal and interest he tried to absorb all the information that was offered to him and to process it logically. Due to the way he understood how to fit in with his peers and subordinates, as well as his personal attitude and knowledge, I consider him suitable to lead a company. In comradely regard he was received pleasantly as a result of his humble and reserved approach.”
SS-Oberführer Werner Freiherr von Scheele’s 29.4.40 evaluation of Hauptsturmführer Kaiser at the JS Tölz stated that from1.10.35. Kaiser had led his training company with great diligence. Later, he gave Kaiser the command of the NCO training company, since he was not necessarily suitable for the position of training young officers due to lacking the necessary foundations for the upbringing of young officers. On the other hand, he was enormously suitable for the training and advancement of NCO’s and attracted attention due to the great zeal he displayed in the leadership of the training company. In a short time and in the most difficult circumstances he was able to weld this company together into something whole and to turn the young men into capable soldiers in a very short time. But also the NCO candidates proved themselves much more capable under his leadership than it had been previously under his predecessors. Von Scheele also said of Kaiser, “He deserves full recognition in this respect that as a companion and man, Kaiser is very popular and always ready to help.” These assessments of Kaiser are telling, in that his desire to achieve success in his chosen career appears to have motivated and accelerated his maturity, and developed his personal skills and temperament. Kaiser would not be caught brawling in bars again, but would develop into a hardened, battle proven professional soldier and commander.
14.6.1940 saw Kaiser recommended for transfer to the SS-Verfügungsdivision. Kaiser was sent to the replacement battalion of the Leibstandarte SS “Adolf Hitler” as a company commander, and shortly afterwards on 26.6.40 Kaiser was transferred to the I./SS “Der Führer”, the regiment Kaiser would call his home, and forge his reputation with, for the next few years. SS-Sturmbannführer Otto Kümm, then commander of III./ SS “Der Führer” stated of the new member of his regiment, “Kaiser is of medium size, stocky and strong. With a very reserved, modest and polite disposition. Mentally he appears well-disposed. Kaiser led the 9th company since 10.9.40. He shows understanding in practical leadership, but as a result of lack of experience his suitability and tactical skills are still uncertain, and due to this a final assessment of his performance cannot yet be made. Kaiser is the bearer of the Golden Party Badge and has an impeccable ideological orientation.” Regimental commander SS-Oberführer Georg Keppler concurred with Kümm’s assessment, “Kaiser is a reliable SS officer with the best will to achieve the best. However, he lacks any practical combat experience. It is to be assumed with his diligence that he will acquire these in the course of time. Since he has only been employed as company commander since 10.9.40, he cannot yet be conclusively judged.” Paul Hausser undersigned and confirmed his agreement with Kümm and Keppler.
Kaiser experienced his first active deployment in the occupation of the Netherlands. Following the success of the Western campaign Kaiser and his unit participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia, and the advance into Russia. After serving on the regimental staff from 15.2.41 until 10.7.41, Kaiser returned to his company and was awarded the Iron Cross second class in July and first class in August. Kaiser was thrown into continuous action with the division in the central sector of the front around Moscow, and wounded twice more in the combat around Kiev in late 1941 to early 1942 commanding the first battalion of the “Der Führer” regiment, when the regiment ground down and nearly destroyed. Kaiser was wounded and transferred to the military hospital at the spa town and resort at Krummhübel (now Karpacz in South-west Poland). Following his recovery Kaiser was ordered to report to the infantry replacement battalion “Der Führer” at Stralsund, returning to his unit on 1.4.42. Receiving the German Cross in Gold on 27.10.42, Kaiser was recommended for promotion due to his “outstanding bravery and enthusiasm before the enemy as a proven front-fighter” and dedication and leadership as battalion commander during the winter campaign of 1941/42. His promotion to SS-Sturmbannführer was requested on 19.2.43, along with his intended proposal for the Knight’s Cross.
During the raging fighting of the Third Battle of Kharkov, on 12.3.43 the 16./SS Rgt "Deutschland" of I./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment "Deutschland" had penetrated the first suburbs of the Zalyutino district after overcoming the deep anti-tank ditch defended by Russian troops and anti-tank guns and had formed a bridgehead there. Against this bridgehead In the early morning hours the enemy lauched violent counterattacks, which threatened to destroy the bridgehead, and were repulsed after bloody fighting. A detachment of the division fought its way to the southern approaches of the city, cutting off the road to Merefa. The regiment sent the III./(SPW) SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment "Der Führer" in to reinforce and hold the bridgehead. At around 15:00, Hermann Hoth ordered Hausser to immediately disengage with the Das Reich, and instead redeploy to cut off escaping Soviet troops. Instead, Hausser sent a detachment from the Totenkopf division for this task and informed Hoth that the risk of disengaging with the Das Reich was far too great. It was intended to wait to penetrate the city with tanks and the SPW battalion after the arrival of a panzer battalion. Kaiser, who had preceded his battalion, decided not to reinforce the defensive front of the I./SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "D" by deploying his men, but to attack the enemy from the bridgehead in order to relieve the 1st Battalion and, if possible, to expand the bridgehead. The attack, led and planned by Kaiser, was a complete success. Not only was it possible to expand the bridgehead considerably, but it was also possible to force the enemy to retreat further. Kaiser had made this daring but risky decision without waiting for the tanks to arrive. It was thanks to his quick and courageous grasp that he managed to penetrate with the mass of the battalion as far as the station, and from there with a reconnaissance troop linked up with a reconnaissance troop from the SS Panzergrenadier Division "Adolf Hitler" who had advanced to "Red Square". By his decision to attack without waiting for the absent tanks, Kaiser and his unit ensured that on the morning of 12.3.43 the entire western part of the city was able to be taken. A Kampfgruppe with SPW’s pursued the retreating enemy, and inflicted heavy losses on the Russians in the woods south-west of Kharkov. The attack succeeded in cutting off the opponent with the capture of 40 artillery pieces. Kaiser’s Knight’s Cross proposal by acting divisional commander SS-Standartenführer Kurt Brasack stated that “Kaiser is an officer who has proven his worth in all his previous actions and whose most outstanding characteristic is his tremendous personal bravery.”
During the fighting in Kharkov, Kaiser personally destroyed four enemy tanks with hand held weapons, earning him four silver Tank Destruction Badges. Kaiser was awarded his Knight’s Cross on 6.4.43.
Continously in action, Das Reich fought at Kursk, Bjelgorod, Stepanowka, and Fastov, and on 31.8.43 Kaiser was wounded again and in the Mius area and admitted to the SS hospital in Krakow on 19.9.43 as a result of wounds sustained in the fighting East of Kharkov, with grenade shrapnel in the upper arm and a fracture from a gunshot wound. SS-Sturmbannführer Helmut Kampfe, holder of the Knight’s Cross and Close Combat Clasp in Gold took over command of Kaiser’s battalion.
Following his convalescence, as part of the SS officer reserve, Kaiser was posted to the SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Schule at Prosetschnitz/Kienschlag on 8.1.44 as an instructor, and the commander of SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Lehr-Regiment, the initial incarnation of the regiment was an elite, well trained and motivated demonstration unit. At Kienschlag, the Lehr Regiment helped test new weapons, such as the Sturmgewehr, and develop tactics to meet the changing conditions of the war. However, by the time Kaiser assumed command, the unit was composed of ethnic German recruits, whom Kaiser would have to attempt to weld into a combat-worthy, cohesive unit. On 4.2.44 Kaiser’s third son born during the war, Werner Kaiser was born. Shortly after the birth of his son, Kaiser’s promotion request to SS-Obersturmbannführer was submitted by Hans-Wilhelm Kempin, commander of the Panzer-Grenadier-Schule. Kempin cited Kaiser’s peacetime and extensive war experience as favourable prerequisites, enabling him in a special way to fulfill the difficult position of regimental commander. Kempin further noted, “With energy and enthusiasm Kaiser is working successfully on the further development of the Lehr regiment. His service, his personal qualities and his war awards justify his promotion.”
The regiment was sent to Hungary in March 1944, and its men were integrated into the forming 16th SS-Panzergrenadierdivision “Reichsführer-SS” where it took part in Operation “Margarethe”, the occupation of Budapest. After the regiment had been incorporated into the division, Kaiser returned to the Panzer-Grenadier-Schule and was tasked with forming the second incarnation of the Lehr regiment.
On his return to the Panzer-Grenadier Schule, on 13.10.44, Hans-Wilhelm Kempin remarked upon Ostubaf Kaiser’s upright soldierly disposition, calm temperament and perfect character. “However, due to his modest good nature, he is sometimes not hard enough on his men. He is reliable and conscientious with a tactically sufficient disposition. The good training facilities at the Panzer-Grenadier-Schule are favourable prerequisites for his leadership of his regiment. His care for his troops makes him popular with his subordinates and superiors alike, and he as respected by his comrades. He is ideologically sound.”
During his time at the training school, Kaiser was awarded the Close Combat Clasp in Gold for his fiftieth confirmed day of close combat; at age 42 he was one of the oldest recipients of that prestigious award. That Kaiser destroyed four tanks with hand held weapons at age 41, and by age 42 had accumulated fifty days of close combat is a clear indication of the man’s astonishing motivation, dedication to his chosen profession, skill at arms and personal bravery.
Whilst holders of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold were generally transferred from the front to serve as instructors, the deteriorating state of the war dictated that qualified combat veterans would be needed to replace the heavy losses among the officer cadres in the combat units. Therefore Kaiser was transferred with his men from the Lehr Regiment to reform the SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 38 of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division “Götz von Berlichingen late in November 1944. This division had experienced its first combat on the invasion front in Normandy, and due to its relative inexperience and heavy losses, Kaiser’s experience and nature would prove a valuable steadying hand in the bitter fighting withdrawals as the Germans were pushed Eastwards. The division defended the “West Wall” until 18.3.45 when the Americans shattered the defence and pushed through. Ordered to the defence of Nuremberg, Kaiser took command of the fortifications in the central area of the division’s sector.
Senior party members recommended Kaiser for the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross for his defence actions around the city, and the divisional command post received a radio message on 19.4.45 confirming the award of the Oak Leaves. By 20.4.45, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 38 was virtually destroyed, and Kaiser set out for a reconnaissance in the area of the defensive fighting to determine the enemy’s movement with his adjutant. SS-Obersturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser and SS-Hauptsturmführer Franz Kukula, commander of the 1st battalion did not return from their reconnaissance.
The fate of Vinzenz Kaiser and Franz Kukula remained shrouded in mystery until 1976 when around 200 bodies were found in a mass grave near Nuremberg were autopsied. Franz Kukula’s body was positively identifed, with the cause of death confirmed as a shot to the back of the head at close rang. Vinzenz Kaiser’s body was never found.
Regarding Kaiser’s Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross, despite the radio message of 19.4.45, in 1999 the OdR declared the unnumbered award invalid due to the fact that the proposal had not been submitted through the proper chain of command.
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