Hitler Youth visit the 12th SS Panzer, 21 March 1944 in Belgium

12th SS Panzer Division

Anti-tank unit of the 3rd SS Panzer, September 1941.

Totenkopf

&quot;The commander of a Silesian Infantry Division awarded the 12-year-old Jungvolk (subdivision of the Hitler Youth for boys aged 10 to 14 - FTG) platoon leader Alfred Zech from Goldenau (Upper Silesia) the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Together with his disabled father the brave boy noticed a wounded Grenadier drudgingly trying to make his way back. Then the 12-year-old yoked his two horses to his sled, loaded up another hand sled and -while leaving the team in cover- salvaged with his hand sled 12 wounded German soldiers out of heavy enemy fire. Furthermore Alfred Zech was presented a watch for initiating the arrest of a spy. The excited boy noticed that an Obergefreiter (Senior Lance-Corporal), taking pictures of the boy's hometown, was wrongly wearing his chevron of rank on the right sleeve. The boy pursuited the suspect long enough to allow police officers to arrest and convict the spy.&quot; Genuine photo caption by war correspondent Koch, March 1945.