Schütze Ritter
Name; Hans Ritter
Born; 1920 Breslau
Civilian Occupation; National Labour Service
In 1940 Hans Ritter could be found training at the famous Grossdeutschland
training base in Chemnitz, Germany after first serving with the National
Labour Service (RAD) since early 1937.
The following year in April 1941, Grossdeutschland along with Han's,
was actively involved in the invasion of Yugoslavia and then, in June
1941, was part of operation Barbarossa – The invasion of Russia.
Grossdeutschland distinguished itself as one of the few units to actually
reach the outer districts of Moscow as part of the 2nd Panzerarmee.
His regiment suffered a very high casualty rate during the bitter fighting
from Tula to Orel and the equally unforgiving weather and many a close
friend was lost or wounded. On 23 June 1943, with the addition of armoured
personnel carriers and Tiger Tanks Grossdeutschland was re-designated
as "Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland"
Schutz Ritter now in the newly formed Panzer Aufklärungs (Armoured
Reconnaissance) Battalion Grossdeutschland with his remaining kamaraden
now in his adopted golden-yellow waffenfarbe went on to fight at Kharkov
, Belgogrod and Kursk during operation Zitadel.
In September 1943, heavy Russian counter attacks forced the Division
and other units back across the Dneiper River to the south it was during
this period that the division earned the nickname "die Feuerwehr" (The
Fire Brigade). Later that year following the bitter fighting, Hans and
his division was sent back to France for replacements and refitting,
where he awaits returning to the front with some newly developed tanks
and help turn back the tide of the Bolshevik hordes and protect Germany's
Eastern boarders and Han’s Father, Wolf, who is an Army tailor
along side his mother Gretta a house wife at there family home in Breslau's
suburbs.
