History has its own life, it is like a person, both easy-going and self-respecting. ——Yu Qiuyu
In early February 1943, the German Sixth Army was defeated in Stalingrad.
Since then, the German offensive on the Eastern Front has been stalled.
Although Germany later regrouped, with the defeat at the Battle of Kursk, the initiative was firmly controlled by the Soviet Union.
On June 23, 1944, the Red Army mobilized its forces and launched an even larger campaign, Operation Bagration.
The cooperation between Britain and the United States was also just right, and their Normandy landings successfully pinned down the German Wehrmacht.
A month later, the Red Army nearly destroyed the German Central Army, and the Soviet front advanced by 560 kilometers.
Soon, the Soviets advanced all the way to East Prussia.
Situation in the European theater in October 1944
Suddenly, the Red Army reversed its strength. They concentrated their forces and began to advance toward the Balkan Peninsula in the south, rendezvousing with the Tito guerrillas who were revolting in Yugoslavia.
After that, the Soviets gradually took control of Hungary and Slovakia.
For Hitler, the loss of Hungary made Nazi Germany even worse.
Since losing Romania's oil supply in May 1944, Germany had to rely on a small oil field in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, to keep the war machine running. Therefore, for Hitler, the oil left in Hungary was undoubtedly the root cause.
To Hitler's greater concern, Germany's three main industrial zones — the Ruhr, saar, and Silesia — were also under threat from the Anglo-American Allies.
Allied forces advancing
Due to the serious shortage of fuel, both German aircraft and tanks have basically become decorations.
It is not difficult to imagine that Hitler was already in a desperate situation at the end of the road.
But he still had illusions about war and hoped for a miracle.
But the forces Hitler could mobilize now were no longer the formidable elite of the hundred battles.
Now, only the militia with no formal training remained in Germany, a youth army of frail elderly people and children aged twelve or thirteen or even younger, of whom the 16-year-old Hans was one.
Hitler was comforting the members of the Youth League
German siblings armed with iron fist anti-tank bazookas
Speaking of which, Hans's life is also very pitiful.
His father died in 1938, and his mother died in her sixth year.
At this time, Hans was only 15 years old and basically had no ability to support himself.
As a last resort, Hans joined the Luftwaffe.
As mentioned above, since Germany lost Romania and Hungary, Germany's oil supply has been cut off and its air force has become a decoration.
As a result, Hans was transferred to the anti-aircraft artillery unit and was responsible for carrying ammunition for the 88 mm anti-aircraft gun team.
Hans after being captured
One day in 1945, Hans's unit was attacked by the U.S. Ninth Army.
The American force that had fought Omaha in blood easily defeated the Germans.
It was also at this time that the military reporter took a picture of Hans.
Hans had followed the Germans to many places and witnessed the powerful firepower of the Allies harvesting the lives of German soldiers in large quantities.
The 16-year-old soldier thought he would be shot, and he couldn't suppress his fear and burst into tears.
Panicked Hans
The Americans wasted no time in capturing this classic prisoner photo that attracted the attention and sympathy of countless people and was widely circulated in the future.
Perhaps because of this photograph, Hans was not mistreated by the Allies.
After the war, Hans was released and has since settled in Finstwald, East Germany.
Soon, Hans became a member of the Communist Party.
In 1997, Hansshan finally came home.
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