Background
Hansen was born on 31 July 1908 at Niebüll, Germany.
Hansen was born on 31 July 1908 at Niebüll, Germany.
Before joining the Steamship he was apprenticed to a locksmith.
The Knights Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World World War World War II The Oak leaves was a second award. In 1933 he joined the Steamship-Verfügungstruppe and by 1939 was the commander of the 12th Company in the Leibstandarte Steamship Adolf Hitler. In 1941, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold and promoted to Sturmbannführer (Major).
He was given command of the World War II/1st Panzer Grenadier Regiment LSSAH. lieutenant was whilst commanding this battalion during the Third Battle of Kharkov on 28 March 1943 that Hansen was awarded the Knight"s Cross.
His battalion broke through to Red Square in Kharkov, conducted house-to-house fighting and opened the way to the city centre, so that the northern part of Kharkov could be taken. Hansen later went on to command the 1st Steamship Panzer Grenadier Regiment LSSAH. With his regiment he took part in the Ardennes Offensive and the offensive in Hungary, Operation Spring Awakening in 1945 during which he was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight"s Cross.
He ended the war as a Standartenführer. Max Hansen died in the town of his birth on 7 March 1990.
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