Date of birth:

1921

Date of death:

1973

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

ax Schoss was a Verwaltungsmaat (Petty Officer) in the German Kriegsmarine and one of the first Kampfschwimmer recruits to receive their training at the secret Italian Gruppo Gamma training facility in Valdagno, Italy.
Schoss participated in the two major Kampfschwimmer operations. In February 1945, together with team leader Alfred Keller, Köneke and Pape, Schoss attempted to blow up a bridge over the River Oder in Aurith with the goal to slow down the Russian advance in the East. Their mission failed due to the extremely cold water of the river.
Schoss was again deployed on April 8, 1945. This time the mission’s objective was to destroy a Luftwaffe ammunition depot located in the beautiful Voerkelius brewery in Cammin (Kamień Pomorski, Poland) before the fast advancing Soviets could seize it.
The two man commando consisting of team leader Franz Lebek and Max Schoss succeeded. For their bravery they were awarded the German Cross in Gold on April 25, 1945. The brewery building does not exist anymore. The attack probably destroyed large areas of the ensemble.

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• Photo: Battle-Tested Rolex-Panerai 3646 Kampfschwimmer – Vintage Panerai and other iconic timepieces under the loupe at Perezcope
  
• - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - Dörr, Manfred. Internationales Militaria-Magazin Nr. 112. Heinz Nickel Verlag, Zweibrücken, Germany, April-Mai 2004