▁civil ian ▁life . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 6 , ▁he ▁joined ▁the ▁He er ▁( Ar my ) ▁branch ▁of ▁the ▁We hr macht ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 6 . ▁He ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁France ▁and ▁the ▁Western ▁Des ert ▁Camp aign ▁as ▁a ▁batt alion - ▁and ▁regiment al - level ▁commander . ▁He ▁was ▁briefly ▁acting ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 5 th ▁Pan zer ▁Division ▁in ▁mid - 1 9 4 2 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁he ▁was ▁given ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 6 th ▁Pan zer ▁Division , ▁which ▁was ▁operating ▁in ▁Italy . ▁He ▁then ▁commanded ▁the ▁XII ▁SS ▁Army ▁Corps ▁from ▁January ▁to ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁until ▁it ▁surrender ed ▁to ▁United ▁States ▁troops . ▁ ▁Under ▁C ras emann ' s ▁command , ▁the ▁ 2 6 th ▁Pan zer ▁Division ▁mass ac red ▁over ▁ 1 6 0 ▁Italian ▁civ ili ans ▁in ▁the ▁Pad ule ▁di ▁Fu ce c chio ▁mass acre . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 7 ▁he ▁was ▁tried ▁by ▁a ▁war ▁cr imes ▁trib unal ▁run ▁by ▁the ▁British ▁authorities ▁in ▁Pad ua . ▁Con v icted ▁and ▁sent enced ▁to ▁a ▁ 1 0 - year ▁imprison ment , ▁C ras emann ▁died ▁in ▁prison ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 0 . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Born ▁in ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Hamburg ▁on ▁ 5 ▁March ▁ 1 8 9 1 , ▁Edu ard ▁C ras emann ▁joined