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259480 Heinrich Wilhelm Assmannfrom:Hallendorf, Germany  H.W. Assmann Waffen SS Henry Assmann was born in 1923, started work on farms in 1937, and was a member of the Hitler Youth. In 1941 he was sent for basic training at the Maurits barracks in Unna, which was also a radio operator school. His first posting was to the Germania Regiment in Arnhem, Holland, which was an NCO school. In December 1941 he was transferred to 7.Company SS-Infanterie-Regiment 4 (motorised) RFSS, attached to 2.SS-Infanterie-Brigade. He was at the siege of Leningrad, contracted scarlet fever, and was withdrawn to the Reserve-Krieges-Lazarette 1 (Krakow). He was then transported to The Central Army Group in Kaluga, Russia - 100 miles from Moscow to join the XII.Armee Korps of the 4.Armee in Feb 1942, the XX.Armee-Korps in March, and XII.Armee-Korps in April. On 22nd of April 1942 he was evacuated along with the remaining 180 men and transferred to 6.Company of the renamed SS-Regiment Langemark in Fallingbostel, Lower Saxony for the formation and reconstruction of the Fast-Regiment-SS-Division Das Reich. On 31st of October 1942, he was promoted to SS-Sturmmann (Lance Corporal). Also on that date, he was transferred to 4.(Light) Kompanie SS Panzer-Regiment 2, which on 7th of December 1942 became part of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich. The Das Reich Division deployed to South Russia and Northeast Ukraine in February 1943, where it was involved in fierce fighting around Kharkiv. He received 2 wounds and was awarded the Iron Cross (2nd Class). On 4th of March 1944, he was shot through the foot and was evacuated to SS-Lazarett Krakau. On 16th of March 1944, he was promoted to SS-Rottenfuhrer (Corporal). On 25th of March1944, he was transferred by train to the hospital and SS Tank Training and Replacement Regiment at Riga Beach, Latvia. On 14th of August 1944, he was transferred to 3./s.SS-Panzer-Abteilung (Battalion) 102 and deployed to Normandy. He was wounded three times during the fighting. The battalion lost all its armour and was recalled to Sennelager, Germany for rest and refit on 7th of September 1944. That same month, 3.Kompanie SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502 (Sondertruppen) was created. In March 1945, they joined the XI.SS-Korps at the River Oder, under the command of 9.Armee, most of which was destroyed by the Russian army, which had encircled the German armour in the Half Pocket (Halber Kessel). The 502nd managed to lead the break-out, with only a few men escaping over the River Elbe. Henry made his way home and returned to his last employer, hoping to continue with as normal a life as possible. But on 18th of May 1945, he was picked up by the U.S. Army, handed over to the British, and transported as a POW to Camp 295, Cattistock in Dorset. He was then sent to the satellite hostel at Long Burton and worked on local farms in Alweston until 1950, when he got a job as poultryman at Herrison Hospital, Dorchester. He worked there until he retired in 1989. He was discharged from the Waffen SS in 1948, married a Swiss girl, changed his surname to Asman and became naturalised in 1953. He raised a son and 2 daughters and died in 2005.
 H.W. Assmann_POW_Permission slip for recreational walks
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