This thread is dedicated to finding and providing information on this soldier pictured in this Iconic photograph. He has recently been identified as Unterscharführer Josef Prieß, a battle hardened soldier of the LSSAH. So far, this is the information I have gathered on him thanks to the help of Forum Member "SS3" along with various online articles:
Josef Prieß (Obereggen, 05.02.1918) joined the Waffen-SS on 27.03.1940, signed for 4½ years and became an SS-Schütze in the 2. (Krad.-) Kompanie of AA LSSAH. During the 1943 Kursk battles Rottenführer Prieß served in the 2. (VW.-) Kompanie. After the Kursk battles he was promoted to Unterscharführer "wegen Tapferkeit vor dem Feinde." According to veterans of the SS AA 1 Prieß happily acted for the Kriegsberichter camera at Poteau because the photographer had served with Prieß in the Leibstandarte earlier in the war.
Josef Prieß was killed in action by MG fire on January 4, 1945 when Stabskompanie SS AA 1 (Ostuf. Goltz) attempted to infiltrate in the American lines 4 km east of Bastogne-Bras. He's burried at the Bastogne-Recogne war cemetery (Block 16, Grave 201), located just outside the town of Foy.
In late January 1945 his company commander wrote a letter to his wife to inform her about the death of her husband.
Here is a colorized version of the photograph of this Iconic soldier:
After learning his name, I searched for more information. While not much came up, I did find another "Prieß" in the LSSAH during the bulge, Hermann Prieß. Hermann Prieß was in command of the 1st SS-Panzerkorps Leibstandarte during the offensive. When I came across a photo of him, I saw a striking resemblance between Hermann and Josef. Notice the eyes, nose, and mouth... nearly identical to one another. Hermann is 17 years Josef's senior (born 1901), I wonder if he could have possibly been his Father, Brother, or Cousin?
Here is the side by side:
Josef Prieß (Obereggen, 05.02.1918) joined the Waffen-SS on 27.03.1940, signed for 4½ years and became an SS-Schütze in the 2. (Krad.-) Kompanie of AA LSSAH. During the 1943 Kursk battles Rottenführer Prieß served in the 2. (VW.-) Kompanie. After the Kursk battles he was promoted to Unterscharführer "wegen Tapferkeit vor dem Feinde." According to veterans of the SS AA 1 Prieß happily acted for the Kriegsberichter camera at Poteau because the photographer had served with Prieß in the Leibstandarte earlier in the war.
Josef Prieß was killed in action by MG fire on January 4, 1945 when Stabskompanie SS AA 1 (Ostuf. Goltz) attempted to infiltrate in the American lines 4 km east of Bastogne-Bras. He's burried at the Bastogne-Recogne war cemetery (Block 16, Grave 201), located just outside the town of Foy.
In late January 1945 his company commander wrote a letter to his wife to inform her about the death of her husband.
Here is a colorized version of the photograph of this Iconic soldier:
After learning his name, I searched for more information. While not much came up, I did find another "Prieß" in the LSSAH during the bulge, Hermann Prieß. Hermann Prieß was in command of the 1st SS-Panzerkorps Leibstandarte during the offensive. When I came across a photo of him, I saw a striking resemblance between Hermann and Josef. Notice the eyes, nose, and mouth... nearly identical to one another. Hermann is 17 years Josef's senior (born 1901), I wonder if he could have possibly been his Father, Brother, or Cousin?
Here is the side by side:
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