Hans Schabschneider was a Hauptscharführer

Hauptscharführer

Hauptscharführer was a Nazi paramilitary rank which was used by the Schutzstaffel between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank was the highest enlisted rank of the SS, with the exception of the special Waffen-SS rank of Sturmscharführer....

, in the Waffen SS during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...

. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Hans Schabschneider was awarded the Knight's Cross on the 27 August 1944, at the time he was in charge of the munitions of the 4th Battery, 2nd SS Artillery Regiment, Das Reich.

When fighting started at Coutances

Coutances

Coutances is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-History:Capital of the Unelli, a Gaulish tribe, the town took the name of Constantia in 298 during the reign of Roman emperor Constantius Chlorus...

 he formed a company of mixed Army and Waffen SS men that had lost their units, committed them to an assault on the American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 line capturing 12 trucks and 120 American prisoners of war.