Léon Gillis (soldier)

Léon Gillis
Born	11 February 1913 Charleroi, Belgium
Died	24 March 1977 (aged 64) Brussels, Belgium
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	Untersturmführer
Unit	Walloon Legion
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I class Iron Cross II class Tank Destruction Badge x three

Léon Gillis (11 February 1913 – 24 March 1977) was a Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II.

Léon Gillis was born on 11 February 1913, in Charleroi, Belgium. During World War II he volunteered to join the Waffen-SS and served with the Walloon Legion.

In August 1944, Gills was the leader of the Panzerjäger platoon and received the Knight’s Cross. Léon Gillis died on 24 March 1977 in Brussels.

Further reading

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.