As an ethnic German born and living in Ukraine (at the time part of the Soviet Union) during World War II, he was conscripted at the age of 17 and served as an interpreter for the Sonderkommando 10a (Sk 10a) which was part of Einsatzgruppe D when it entered Soviet Ukraine in 1941.
As a German native living in Ukraine (then under Soviet control) during WWII, he was forcibly enlisted at 17 and served as an interpreter for Sonderkommando 10a, part of Einsatzgruppe D when it occupied Soviet Ukraine in 1941.