Alfred Genath, born in 1923, volunteered for the Waffen-SS in January 1942. After passing his teacher training, he was called up in August 1942. As a member of the 13th Company of Panzergrenadier Regiment 5 of the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf", he experienced his baptism of fire on the Eastern Front in February 1943. After completing a Unterführer course in Breslau-Lissa, another front deployment and a leadership preparation course in Warsaw-Milosna, he was commanded to the 17th Kriegsjunker course at the SS Junker School in Prague. Even before the end of the Kriegsjunker course, Alfred Genath received new marching orders to Breslau-Lissa. With the substitute battalion there, where he worked as an instructor, he ended up in the fortress of Breslau after unsuccessful defensive battles. As a member of the "Lundius" unit, he stood together with his comrades at the focal points of the battle for the Breslau fortress. After the surrender of the fortress, Alfred Genath became a Soviet prisoner of war and was not released until the end of December 1949. The life of a former war volunteer described here gives a detailed insight into his experiences at that time.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Genath, A.
Title
Aus dem Leben eines jungen Kriegsfreiwilligen
Details
2nd edition. Many previously unpublished b/w illustrations and reproductions of documents. 76 pages.
State
new
Nation & Wissen Postfach 100045 01571 Riesa Deutschland
