Promotions:
1937: Fahnenjunker
1938: Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
1938: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
1939: Fähnrich
1939: Oberfähnrich
01.08.1939: Leutnant
15.09.1941: Oberleutnant
30.01.1943: Hauptmann
20.02.1944: Major
In 1937 Hans joined the II. / I.R. 17 in Braunschweig. While visiting the War school in Wiener-Neustadt
1938 to 1939 Austen was promoted to lieutenant and then Platoon leader in the II. / I.R. 497, where he was appointed adjutant in 1940.
After work on the Siegfried Line and in Campaign against France, Austen is also used in the fight against the Soviet Union and receives in June the leadership of the 9th Company.
In 1942 he becomes leader of the 2nd Battalion and is wounded.
After healing and taking over his old command, the division became part of the XXXXI. Panzer Corps 1943 badly attacked. With the smallest of forces, the superior enemy became with the heaviest losses thrown back. Austen showed extreme bravery and leadership qualities. Thereupon he received on 5. December 1943 the Knight's Cross.
In 1944 he was assigned to the 25th Panzer Grenadier Division. From August he will receive a command to school I for flag junior infantry in Dresden. Then command to the
Döberitz Infantry School, where he takes part in the 18th regiment leader course, he comes to in October Army school for battalion and division commanders in Ohrdruf. From there he receives the transfer to War academy with simultaneous command to weapons schools of the replacement army
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