Hans Bixel

Hans Bixel (September 25, 1925 - May 10, 2010) was apart of this group of friends who were highly affected by the outbreak of World War II. He served in the German Wehrmacht from 1943 - 1945 as a Obergefreiter and an expert sniper and served primarily on the European Theater on the Western Front. His final battle was at the Colmar Pocket in Early - 1945.

During his military career, he killed over 300 men, and made his enemies run. Recieving 180 combat and 5 marksman medals. He met the American Legend Audie Murphy and shook his hand proudly in 1948 who had granted him mercy and tooken him prisoner, and the two became best friends.

Hans always hated Adolf Hitler. He planned to assassinate him someday with his cousin Lilly, but of course, that never happened because Hitler's empire fell anyways.

Early Life
Hans was born in Kassel, Germany in 1925 to a German Mother with Blond Hair and Blue Eyes, and a Irish Alcoholic for a Father with Brown Hair and Blue Eyes (He had Brown Hair and Blue Eyes like his father). Shortly after his birth, his father left home going back to Dublin, Ireland, never to return. Despite never seeing his father, he lived a normal life with his mother and his sister Gretel. His family had a strong belief in the religon of Christianity and were Catholics.

Coming To America
At age 12, his family moved to the Great Planes of Kansas in 1937 to escape the Nazi Tyranny in Germany. His family was happily accepted into the United States where they lived there for 6 years before returning back to Germany in 1942. While he was living in America, he learned English and can speak it fluently when ever speaking to an english speaking person.

While in America, Hans made many new friends. Many he never saw again till after the war. During his military services, he wrote back home to his friendss in America, and in Germany, including his mother, and his sister regularly.

Hans Answers His Country's Call
In June 1943, Hans enlisted in the Wehrmacht at age 17, lying about his age and claiming that he was 18. He got in successfully feeling both excited and homesick already. He enlisted in the 711. Infanterie-Division of the German Wehrmacht, 1st Battalion, 1st Kompanie. His Battalion was considered the best and always was. The first two weeks of basic training were rough on him. At first, he was called weak, and pathetic by the other Rekruts in his Company.

Hans never let the words define who he was! He always said to himself, "I am strong! I am not weak like the Rabbit! I am Fierce, like a Tiger!" It worked, Hans got better, and better, and better every time. Hans later graduated at the highest of his class in March 1944 and was promoted to Obershutze.

Normandy Invasion, June 1944
Two days before the invasion of Normandy, France. The 711th Infantry Division was deployed to Caen (Battle for Caen) where they later fought against the British 6th Airborne Division aswell as the British 7th Armoured Division. Out numbering the British Red Devil's 3 - 1, the 6th Airborne Division and the 7th Armoured Division managed to defeat the 711th Infantry Division along with many other German Divisions such as the Panzer Lehr Division, 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion, and 12th SS Panzer Division in a fierce firefight all across the city which lasted three months.

Operation Market Garden
The 711th Infantry Division also played a big part in Operation Market Garden September of 1944. The fullscale battle ended in a Allied Defeat and a German Victory ending on Hans' 18th Birthday. Delighted with the results, he celebrated his 18th birthday by himself with a couple bottles of French Wine he managed to save from when he was in Caen a month ago.

Battle of Hurtgen Forest, Hill 400
In October of 1944, Hans and his Division were sent to the German - Belgian Border what is now called the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. He was stationed at Hill 400 (Battle of Hill 400) near the town of Berstein, Germany where it was a brutal bloody battle. On December 8, 1944, Hans and his division were trying to defend Hill 400 from the U.S 2nd Ranger Battalion but failed. Hans managed to escape with his life and from being captured by the Americans and trying to regroup with his Division like many other survivors. Once he returned to what was left of his Division, he was promoted to Obergefreiter.

The Colmar Pocket
In January 1945, he was sent to the Colmar Pocket where he soon met up close and personal with the American Legend, Audie Murphy. Hans was about 200 yards away from his postion as he was mowing down an entire Panzer Division of German Infantry with a 50. Caliber Machinge Gun Mount on a M10 Tank Destroyer. He was about to pull the trigger when, a queer notion prevented him from pulling it. He tried again, and again, and again, but the same queer nootion prevented him from pulling that trigger. He then decided to throw down his rifle and run out with his hands up crying "Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" in english to the Texas lad. Audie Murphy accepted his surredner and pulled Hans by the collar back to his Division's post where he helped the allies win the war against Hitler.

Later Life
After the war, Hans returned home to Kansas, taking his sister and his mother with him aswell as keeping in touch with Audie Murphy. He apologised to American, British, and Canadian Families who became KIA in the hands of him and was granted a parden by the UK and America in 1946. Hans lived out the rest of his life peacefully with a wife named Elizabeth, and two twin son's named Ethan and Robert as a successful father and father figure to his two sons.

Both of his sons served in the Vietnam War as a sniper team in the U.S. Marines. Both served 2 terms (1964 - 1967) in Vietnam and came home with PTSD and Paranoia but were alive and managed to have families of their own. Elizabeth died in 2008 at age 82, then Hans later died in 2010 at age 85. Neither of the two got to see their Great Grandchildren, but were happy enough to live their lives in peace and happyness.