Albert M. Hassenzahl
Hassenzahl
Albert M.
OH
World War, 1939-1945
Army
C Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Captain
Camp Livingston, Louisiana; Fort Benning, Georgia; England; Normandy, France; Holland; Bastogne, Belgium; Germany
Unknown
Veteran
"I thought that I was the only GI to land on the coast of Normandy." (Audio interview, 15:16)
When paratrooper Albert Hassenzahl landed in France in the early morning darkness of June 6, 1944, he wasn't alone. But for a moment, with no one--friend or foe--visible, it did seem that way. He was wounded a short time later and evacuated, but he returned to Europe to participate in the Market Garden operation and the Battle of the Bulge. Hassenzahl recorded his war memories years later, alone in his study, after a younger neighbor's casual remark prompted him to realize the historical importance of what he had experienced.
Albert Hassenzahl, age 21.
Forever a Soldier
The War
Albert M. Hassenzahl
2nd Lt. Albert M. Hassenzahl, age 21
"My father, Albert P. Hassenzahl, age 17. Cpl. 1st Ohio Vol. Cav. Reg. Troop E. Tampa, Florida.
Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower reviews the 506 PIR 101 Airborne Division on the eve of D-Day.
June 5, 1944
Transcript of Second Interview
The four stages of Paratroop School; injury on a practice jump.
Inspection before D-Day; dropping into France.
Suffering a wound; encounter with an enemy soldier on the beach.
Operation Market Garden; the liberated Dutch showing their appreciation.
The Battle of the Bulge.
The death of Sergeant Zattwich, a man who saved his life."Beginning"
Attacking a village house by house; losing many men.
Death of Segeant Zattwich, a man who saved his life. "Continued"
Liberating a concentration camp at Landsberg.
Opening up about his war experiences after many years.
Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.05222/
DLC-AFC
2023-06-05
loc.natlib.afc2001001.05222