German Career Officer

As a youth, Hans Bauer dreamed of becoming an officer in the German Army. The day came and he applied for officer candidate school. Eventually, he joined the Tank Corps. Shortly, he was part of the invasion of Poland, the Second Offensive into Russia, the Blitzkrieg into France, was assigned for a few months to be Hitler’s security detail. Then came the big assignment joining Rommel and the Africa Corps with the famed Tenth Tank Division. He fought under Rommel for a short while when Rommel was called to Germany. Eventually, the Americans and British forces pushed the Africa Corps into the Cap Bon peninsula. Over 250,000 men and officers surrendered. All of them, including Capt. Hans Bauer, were shipped out to the United States. Hans Bauer spent three years in a prisoner-of-war camp in Concordia, Kansas. He was wounded twice, in Russia and Africa. He received the Iron Cross First Class for bravery. Upon return to Germany, he sees a devastated country, divorce, and seeking a job. When Germany was allowed to have an army once more, Hans Bauer signed up as a Captain in the Tank Corps. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel