Teusen, Hans

Date of birth:: July 26th, 1917 (Salz-Montabaur/Hesse-Nassau, Germany)
Date of death:: February 11th, 2011 (Bad Neuenahr, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Hans Teusen finally reached the rank of Major during the Second World War. After the war he served from 16th February 1956 until 30th September 1977 with the Bundesweht and there finally reached the rank of Generalmajor.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Zugführer 6. / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2
Awarded on:: June 14th, 1941

Awarded for his actions at the Corinth canal on the 26.04.1941. After he and his Zug were dropped south of the canal they stormed into action and quickly eliminated an anti-aircraft battery at the south end of the bridge. They were, however, unable to prevent the demolition of this bridge.

With this Teusen and the rest of his Kompanie (led by Hauptmann Schirmer) began their attack into Corinth. Teusen, with the help of two captured self-propelled AA guns, pushed into the city. There he met with Schirmer again and pressed on towards Tolos, taking hostile positions and destroying their rearguard. Teusen was wounded at this stage of the battle but remained with his troops. As the battle continued to go in the Germans' favour, Teusen sent an English speaking Feldwebel to persuade the British to surrender. With a little bit of bluffing this attempt was successful, and Teusen's Zug accepted the surrender of 72 British officers and 1200 men.