linge was born in bremen, germany. he was employed as a bricklayer prior to joining the ss in 1933. he served in the leibstandarte ss adolf hitler (lssah), hitler's bodyguard. in 1934 when he was part of no. 1 guard to hitler's residence on the obersalzberg near berchtesgaden, linge was selected to serve at the reich chancellery. by the end of the war he had obtained the rank of ss-"obersturmbannführer" (lieutenant colonel).