Born on 25 January, 1911 Hugo Kraas was the eldest of seven sons. He studied shortly to be a teacher, until the death of his father Franz forced him to finnish schooling and go to work. On 1 May, 1934 Kraas joined the NSDAP, and shortly there after the SA. He stayed with the "Brown Shirts" until 19 April, 1935 when he transfered to the Heer. His stay was not to be long though, and on 15 October, 1935 Hugo Kraas joined the SS/VT, and was stationed to the "Germania" Standarte as a SS-Rottenführer. Kraas attended the third cadet group at SS Junkerschule Braunschweig in April 1937 and was commissioned on 12 March, 1938 as a SS-Untersturmführer. He graduated second in his class.
SS-Untersturmführer Kraas was assigned to the LSSAH, and given the command of a platoon with 14 Panzerjägerkompanie (Anti-tank), under the command of Kurt Meyer. He commanded this platoon throughout the invasion of Poland, and was awarded the Iron Cross second class on 16 October, 1939. In November Kurt Meyer was given command of 15 Kradschützenkompanie (Motorcycle), and was allowed to take one platoon leader with him. He chose Kraas. The now SS-Obersturmführer assumed command of the second Platoon throughout the invasion of Holland, where he became the first officer in the LSSAH to be awarded the Iron Cross first class for advancing 50 miles past the Ijssel river, taking 7 officers, 120 soldiers prisoner. The commander of 227.Infanterie Division, Generalleutnant Zickwolf presented the awarded to him on 25 May, 1940. Later that same year he was presented with the Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze (3 October. Author).
After the invasions of Holland and France, the LSSAH was enlarged from a Regiment to a "strong brigade". Meyer's 15 Kradschützenkompanie became the LSSAH's Aufklärungsabteilung (Reconnasance Detachment). Kraas's Platoon became the 2 Kompanie, and Kraas was made Kompanie commander. He fought with Meyer in the Balkans, and Russia, assuming temporary command of the Aufklärungsabteilung when Meyer fell in October 41'. Kraas was awarded the German Cross in Gold on Christmas day, 1941 for his repeated personal bravery and exemplary leadership of SS-Aufkl.Abt 1 during the Rostov battles.
In June 1942 the Leibstandarte Adolph Hitler was reorganized into a Panzergrenadier Division, and Kraas was given command of the I./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt 2 (I.Bataillon). He led his Bataillon throughout the retreat, and then the recapture of Kharkov. He was awarded the Knights Cross for his roll in these battles on 28 March, 1943. During the summer of 1943, Sepp Dietrich relinquished command of the Division in order to form the I.SS-Panzerkorps. Theodor Wisch, commander of SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt 2 assumed command of the Division, and Kraas was given command of Wisch's Regiment. Shortly there after he was promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer. He assumed command just in time for Operation Zitadelle.
On 5 June Kraas' Regiment was given the task of driving past the heavily defended bunkers south of Bykova, through the town, and continue north of Bykova to the main objective; the capture of Hill 234. The assualt began at 4am. Pushing past the minefields that proceeded the bunker system, progress was slow. Gains were counted in meters, and casulties were heavy including most of the Pioniers. The attack was halted to reorganize, and the Russian defenders used this relief to strengthen their resistance.
As the crisis unfolded, SS-Obersturmbannführer Kraas rallied the remaining forces to continue the assault. Organized into three assualt groups, one led by Kraas himself, they assualted hill 220, which was defended by Russian tanks and managed to break the back of Russian resistance only after close combat. Immediately SS-Obersturmbannführer Kraas pushed onward to Bykova. Always at the foward line of action, and especially the "hot spots", Kraas pushed his men foward, and by 4pm reached his objective with the capture of Hill 234. SS-Brigadeführer Theodor Wisch felt that without the successfull resolution of these actions, the attack along the divisions southern front would have to be halted. Despite these success, Operation Zitadelle was doomed to
failure, and with the Allied landings in Sicily, the Operation was called off.
Following the failure of Zitadelle, the Russian's gained the initiative, and the German forces were forced to the defensive. Again Kraas rose to the occassion. On 26 December, with SS-Obersturmbannführer Kraas's Regiment defending the Division's left flank, the Russians attacked at 1pm with a Regiment and 13 T-34's. The attack was halted with three T-34's knocked out. The Russians attacked again on the morning of the 28th, at 2:30am with 15 T-34's carrying infantry. With the support of a Panzer group subordinated to the Regiment the attack was halted. The Russians attacked AGAIN, one hour later, this time with 35 tanks carrying infantry.
At the battle's high point, the Russian's managed to penetrate the Regiment's left flank, making their way to the Regimental headquaters. SS-Obersturmbannführer Kraas, commanding the members of his staff, personally led the counter-attack into the Russians right flank. Once again the Russian attack was halted, with the loss of 19 T-34's, and most of the infantry. The Russians were unrelenting, and attacked again at noon, this time with 60 tanks and 4 Regiments of infantry from the north and east. Kraas was able to halt the advance by establishing a new front line in the Russian's assembly area, preventing the encirclement of his Regiment. Despite these successes, the division was forced to retreat, and Kraas recieved orders to fall back to a village south of the Guiva section. The bridge that was to be used to cross the river had been destroyed, this forced Kraas to lead his Regiment and a Kompanie of Panthers parallel to Russian lines to a crossing further west. While under enemy fire, Kraas led his command across the bridge; personally being the last to cross. The Regiment then proceeded to establish a new fighting line in the village of Voroschino. The encirclement and destruction of his Regiment was prevented once again.
By the evening of the 29th the Russians had established a beachead from which they would attack the northern portion of the village. The I.Bataillon came under extreme pressure, and after the death of the Bataillon commander, and most of the NCO's, the Battaillon was forced back. The Russians began to sweep around the village in a attempt to encircle and destroy Kraas's Regiment. SS-Obersturmbannführer Kraas gathered all available forces, including non-combat personal, and armed with a machinegun personally lead the attack to throw the Russian's from the village. A new front was established on the edge of the village, and all further Russian attacks were repulsed. This four day defensive action depleted much of the Russian spearhead, and enabled the orderley withdrawal of the entire Division. Unit's under Kraas's command destroyed 91 tanks, 63 anti-tank guns, captured 900 men, and killed over 3000 more.
Kraas was wounded on 5 January, 1944 and stepped down from his command in order to recover from his wounds. On 25 January he was the 375th man in the German Armed forces to be awarded Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross for the actions cited above (Kursk and Zhitomir), and six days later he was promoted to SS-Standartenführer. Following a Dvisional commanders course, he was transferred to the 12.SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend", and on 15 November took over command from Fitz Kraemer. He was to be the Divisions fifth, and last, commander. Following the operation in the Ardennes he was promoted to SS-Oberführer, and on 20 April to SS-Brigadeführer. He led the 12.SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend" throughout the remainder of the war, surrendering the remnents of the Division to the U.S. Army near Linz, Austria on 8 May 1945.
He was held as a prisoner of war until 1948. He died of a heart attack in Selk, Schleswig-Holstein, on 20 Febuary, 1980.
