Full Name:Karl Heinz Henschel
Born: 05/05/14
Civilian occupation: Farmer

He was born on May 5th, 1914,He followed in his fathers footsteps and became a farmer near the village of Bordenau, located about 10 kilometers northwest of Hanover on the Leine River.

He was first inducted on March 5, 1937 to serve his mandatory military service, after which he was released and became part of the Landwehr (organized reserves).

With the war only days away, Karl-heinz was called back to the colors and on August 28th, 1939, joined 2.Radfahr Schwadron, Landwehr Aufklärungs Abteilung 216 (second "Bicycle" Company, Reserve Reconnaissance Battalion 216). When this reserve unit was fully mobilized, it dropped the Landwehr designation as it became part of the regular army.

With this unit, Karl participated in the Invasion of the Low Countries and France in 1940.

In late 1941, while his unit was still doing occupation duty on the Cotentin Peninsula of France, he volunteered for the elite Grossdeutschland regiment where he was sent to the Wandern training grounds very close to the Oder river. and joined the reconnaissance battalion 2/Pz.Aufk/l.Abt.GD.

 





Grossdeutschland stahlhelm divisional insignia

 

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