| His father was staff-bugler in 2 Liebhusaren Regiment (he's referred to as the drummer later in the same book but there you go).
Albert is second only to Porta as a tank driver. He doesn't get a big part in the books but he certainly makes his mark. He causes great confusion during a regimental inspection by the general in The Commissar Chapter 1 'Panzer Attack'. Orders later arrive demanding that he be scrubbed white.
If all this seems wildly unlikely then I can only refer you to Black Soldiers in the German Army on the miscellaneous page for a bit more info. | 