Hans-Georg Henke, a 16 year old German soldier, after a long battle he was captured by the American’s and taken as a POW. He burst into tears as a combination of shell shock and fear
A sixteen-year-old German anti-aircraft soldier of the Hitler Youth, Hans-Georg Henke, taken prisoner in the state of Hessen, Germany. He was a member of the Luftwaffe anti-air squad who burst into tears as his world crumbled around him.
His father died in 1938 but when his mother died in 1944 leaving the family destitute, Hans-Georg had to find work in order to support the family. At 15 years of age, he joined the Luftwaffe.
According to the story that Henke maintained throughout his life, he was based in Stettin with a battery of 88mm guns. As the Soviets advanced so the German forces were pushed back towards Rostock. It was here where the Soviets finally overran their unit, that these photographs were taken.
(story)
