🇩🇰🇬🇧WWII uncovered: Anders Lassen of Denmark Honored with the Victoria Cross




🇩🇰🇬🇧WWII uncovered: Anders Lassen of Denmark Honored with the Victoria Cross

Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen, of Copenhagen Denmark, joined the British Commandos in 1940, serving with No. 62 Commando. Anders was commissioned in the field and awarded an immediate Military Cross for his part in Operation Postmaste on the Spanish island of Fernando Po, of off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. When the No. 62 Commando disbanded in 1942 Lassen transferred to the Special Boat Section of the SAS. - IWM

While serving as a Major in the Special Boat Section, Anders Lassen became the first non-commonwealth recipient of the Victoria Cross. According to the London Gazette, Major Lassen was posthumously awarded this honor on September 4, 1945:

"The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to: Major (temporary) Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau LASSEN, M.C. (234907), General List.

"In Italy, on the night of 8/9 April 1945, Major Lassen was ordered to take out a patrol of one officer and seventeen other ranks to raid the north shore of Lake Comacchio."

"His task was to cause as much confusion as possible, to give the impression of a major landing, and to capture prisoners. No previous reconnaissance was possible, and the party found itself on a narrow road flanked on both sides by water."

"Preceded by two scouts, Major Lassen led his men along the road towards the town. They were challenged after approximately 500 yards from a position on the side of the road. An attempt to allay suspicion by answering that they were fishermen returning home failed, for when moving forward again to overpower the sentry, machinegun fire started from the position, and also from two other blockhouses to the rear."

"Major Lassen himself then attacked with grenades, and annihilated the first position containing four Germans and two machine guns. Ignoring the hail of bullets sweeping the road from three enemy positions, an additional one having come into action from 300 yards down the road, he raced forward to engage the second position under covering fire from the remainder of the force. Throwing in more grenades he silenced this position which was then overrun by his patrol. Two enemy were fatally wounded, two captured and two more machine-guns silenced."

"By this time the force had suffered casualties and its firepower was very considerably reduced. Still under a heavy cone of fire Major Lassen rallied and reorganised his force and brought his fire to bear on the third position. Moving forward himself he flung in more grenades. He then went forward to within three or four yards of the position to order the enemy outside, and to take their surrender."

"Whilst shouting to them to come out he was hit by a burst of spandau fire from the left of the position and he fell mortally wounded, but even whilst falling he flung a grenade, wounding some of the occupants, and enabling his patrol to dash in and capture this final position."

"Major Lassen refused to be evacuated as he said it would impede the withdrawal and endanger further lives, and as ammunition was nearly exhausted the force had to withdraw."

"By his magnificent leadership and complete disregard for his personal safety, Major Lassen had, in the face of overwhelming superiority, achieved his objects. The high sense of devotion to duty and the esteem in which he was held by the men he led, added to his own magnificent courage, enabled Major Lassen to carry out all the tasks he had been given with complete success." - The London Gazette 4 September 1945

In addition to posthumously being honored with the Victoria Cross, Major Lassen was the recipient of the Military Cross with Two Bars. Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen gave his life on April 9, 1945 at Lake Comacchio Italy. He lies in rest at the Argenta Gap War Cemetery in Argenta, Italy. Anders was 24 years old at the time of his passing. Lest We Forget.


WWII uncovered ©️ original description and photo sourced by: IWM, London Gazette 4 September 1945 and the Commonwealth War Graves Registry

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