Hans Brunner grew up as part of the German minority in Southern Schleswig, Denmark.

He got into the army with his conscription in the infantry. He had not considered a professional career, but the comradeship he experienced and the handling of guns that he really liked led him to consider joining as a lifer.
Upon extended training it became apparent that he was a born marksman. He was trained as sniper and later joined the Danish Jaeger Corps.
Given he was already involved in covert missions around the world and excelled in his field he was a natural candidate for the Danish government to send to I.C.O.