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SS- Sturmann Hans van Nystein

01.11.1925 -

Hans enlisted late in the war for the "Westland", after attending a Wehrertüchtigungslager (Hitler Youth Sports Camp) in January 1944. Through manipulation (from German relatives, and "the Church") he was temporarily assigned to a training company in Holland, until his mother, who was terminally ill would get better or pass away. When she did die, three weeks into his basic training, Hans requested to be transferred to his parent training unit "Westland", in Austria. However his request was denied and he was ordered to stay with the 2nd training and replacement company of SS-Wachbattalion III 'Nordwest'.

Not wanting to have anything to do with guarding Concentration Camps or rounding up prisoners, Hans told his Commanding officer, Hauptsturmführer Ziegler,  that if he ever would be assigned to any such duties, he would run away, and go to Germany where he, thanks to a another still valid fake identity could enlist in another SS Unit.  Hptsf Ziegler who had taken a liking to him, saw that he was dead serious, and gave him his personal word that he would use all his power to prevent that.  Later Hans would find out, that his C.O. shortly before he got to know him, had lost all his posessions and his whole family in a bombardment of Kassel including his son, of the same age as Hans.  After basic training Hans was trained as Dispatch runner and assistant combat medic. During the Battle of Arnhem, Hans van Nystein was a member of the battered remnants of 2./ SS-Wachbattalion III 'Nordwest', and a personal dispatch runner for Hptsf Ziegler.

After the Battle of Arnhem, he was transferred to the 34th SS Division 'Landstorm Nederland' and ended up at a Regimental Headquarters. Here he performed duties such as kradmelder (motorised dispatch running) and manning switchboards. On his way back from a dispatch run, in March 1945, Hans saw about 100 civilians who had been  shot in reprisal for a partisan attack on SS-Obergruppenführer Hanns Rauter. On return from this disptach run he complained [ understatement ] to the commanding Sturmbannführer, and as a result was given an ultimatum: be court-martialed with a result of being shot or volunteer for the 'special commandos'. Special Commandos were known as Himmelfahrtkommando (going to heaven commandos) due to the hazardous tasks allocated to its members. He chose the later.

Hans was given a quick education in tank recognition, mine laying and explosives and was tasked to go behind enemy lines to destroy enemy armour. It was around Arnhem that Hans and other members were sent to hunt for enemy movements.   An enemy column lead by a Caterpillar came up the road and the troop was ordered to retreat.  Hans however had been sent ahead as an observing scout, taken cover in a foxhole and was "stuck". Hans fired a Panzerfaust (anti-tank rocket) which hit the vehicle's caterpillar. The remaining vehicles, and enemy personnel  fired around him to try to draw him out but he remained hidden. A number of comrades, lead by his friend Peter, returned later and assisted Hans to escape by fire and movement. On returning to his headquarters he was congratulated by his commander that he "had personally stopped an enemy advance and held them off for over three hours". As a result he was awarded the Iron Cross II Class.

Hans was involved in a number of other skirmishes but spent most of his time conducting dispatch riding and medic duties in Holland. On the 23rd of April 1945, he received a promotion to Unterscharführer however never got to wear the rank.  Hans capitulated to the Canadians with the rest of his unit on the 10th May 1945. During the war had been awarded the Iron Cross II Class, War Merit Cross with Swords II Class for action at Arnhem in September 1944,  and the Wound Badge in Black, after having been shot off his motorcycle by a British fighterplane.