General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

Discussions on the personalities of the Wehrmacht and of the organizations not covered in the other sections. Hosted by askropp and Frech.
User avatar
Dimitrii
Member
Posts: 641
Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 13:13
Location: Europe

General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#1

Post by Dimitrii » 28 Jul 2007, 01:12

What did he do before 1940? And why was he executed by partisans in June 1945?

User avatar
K.Kocjancic
Member
Posts: 6788
Joined: 27 Mar 2003, 20:57
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia

#2

Post by K.Kocjancic » 28 Jul 2007, 04:29

http://www.geocities.com/%7Eorion47/
General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn
Born: 21 Feb 1892 in Nuremberg (Nürnberg)
Died: 05 Jun 1945 in Captivity in Ljubliana (Laibach), Yugoslavia (Shot)
Promotions:
Fähnrich (22 May 1912); Leutnant (27 Jan 1913); Oberleutnant (18 Apr 1916); Hauptmann (01 Jan 1923); Major (01 Apr 1933); Oberstleutnant (01 Dec 1935); Oberst (01 Apr 1938); Generalmajor (01 Aug 1940); Generalleutnant (01 Aug 1942); General der Panzertruppe (01 Nov 1942)
Career:
Entered Army Service (24 Jul 1911)
Fahnenjunker in the 67th Infantry-Regiment (24 Jul 1911-02 Aug 1914)
Platoon-Leader in the 67th Reserve-Infantry-Regiment (02 Aug 1914-12 Aug 1914)
Transferred to the Reserve-Infantry-Regiment Metz (12 Aug 1914-28 Oct 1914)
Adjutant of the I. Battalion of the 98th Infantry-Regiment (28 Oct 1914-28 Jul 1916)
Company-Leader in the 98th Infantry-Regiment (28 Jul 1916-07 Jan 1917)
Temporary-Leader of the II. Battalion of the 98th Infantry-Regiment (07 Jan 1917-16 Jan 1917)
Temporary-Leader of the III. Battalion of the 98th Infantry-Regiment (16 Jan 1917-05 Mar 1917)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 98th Infantry-Regiment (05 Mar 1917-07 Dec 1917)
With the Staff of the 207th Infantry-Division (07 Dec 1917-13 Dec 1917)
Transferred into the 98th Reserve-Infantry-Regiment and Detached to the Staff of the 89th Reserve-Infantry-Brigade (13 Dec 1917-21 Dec 1917)
Adjutant of the 89th Reserve-Infantry-Brigade (21 Dec 1917-04 Jan 1919)
Company-Leader in the 98th Infantry-Regiment (04 Jan 1919-01 Apr 1919)
Regiments-Adjutant with the German Protection-Division (01 Apr 1919-22 Apr 1919)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 70th Infantry-Regiment (22 Apr 1919-01 Oct 1919)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 8th Rifle-Regiment (01 Oct 1919-01 Jan 1921)
Transferred into the 12th Infantry-Regiment (01 Jan 1921-01 Oct 1921)
Transferred into the 12th Mounted-Regiment and Detached to Subsidiary-Leadership-Training with the Staff of the 4th Division (01 Oct 1921-01 Oct 1922)
Platoon-Leader in the 12th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1922-01 Oct 1923)
Transferred into the 4th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1923-01 Oct 1924)
MG-Officer with the Staff of the 12th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1924-01 May 1927)
Company-Chief in the 12th Infantry-Regiment (01 May 1927-01 Oct 1932)
Transferred into the 5th Mounted-Regiment and Detached to the Infantry-School (01 Oct 1932-01 Jan 1935)
Instructor at the War School in Dresden (01 Jan 1935-01 Dec 1935)
Commander of the I. Battalion of the 33rd Infantry-Regiment (01 Dec 1935-12 Oct 1937)
With the Staff of the 33rd Infantry-Regiment (12 Oct 1937-01 Apr 1939)
Commander of the 33rd Infantry-Regiment (01 Apr 1939-30 Jul 1940)
Commander of the 5th Panzer-Division (25 Nov 1940-01 Oct 1942)
Delegated with the Leadership of XXXX. Panzer-Corps (01 Oct 1942-01 Nov 1942)
Commanding General of XXXX. Panzer-Corps (01 Nov 1942-13 Nov 1942)
Führer-Reserve OKH (13 Nov 1942-16 Nov 1942)
Commanding General of the German Africa-Corps (DAK) (16 Nov 1942-15 Jan 1943)
Wounded, in Hospital (15 Jan 1943-04 Feb 1943)
Führer-Reserve OKH (04 Feb 1943-01 Jul 1943)
Delegated with the Temporary-Leadership of LXXXVI. Panzer-Corps (01 Jul 1943-20 Aug 1943)
Führer-Reserve OKH (20 Aug 1943-10 Oct 1943)
Commanding General of XXI. Army-Corps (10 Oct 1943-20 Jul 1944)
Commanding General of XV. Mountain-Corps (20 Jul 1944-08 May 1945)
In Yugoslavian Captivity (08 May 1945-05 Jun 1945)
Shot in Captivity (05 Jun 1945)

Awards & Decorations:
- Ritterkreuz (158): am 05.08.1940 als Oberst und Kommandeur des Schützen-Regiments 33
- Deutches Kreuz in Gold: am 07.07.1942 als Generalmajor und Kommandeur 5. Panzer-Division
- EK I: 27.07.1915
- EK II: 30.09.1914
- Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz: 00.05.1918
- Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz: 12.11.1918
- Grossherzoglich Oldenburgisches Friedrich August-Kreuz II. und I. Klasse mit Kranz: 25.04.1919
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung II. bis I. Klasse: 01.12.1936
- Spange zum EK I: 12.10.1939
- Spange zum EK II: 20.09.1939
- Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber
- Grossoffizierkreuz des Kgl. Bulgar. Ordens vom Heiligen Alexander mit Schwertern
- Medaille �Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942�: 08.09.1942
- Ärmelband �Afrika�


Back to ABR Homepage
Regards,
Klemen


User avatar
genstab
Member
Posts: 2116
Joined: 15 Jul 2003, 23:50
Location: The Big City on Lake Erie

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#3

Post by genstab » 13 Apr 2013, 17:48

per his assignment from July to August 1943, this is from a typo in Bradley; should be LXXXVI. Armeekorps

User avatar
genstab
Member
Posts: 2116
Joined: 15 Jul 2003, 23:50
Location: The Big City on Lake Erie

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#4

Post by genstab » 29 Jul 2014, 02:44

I am now not certain about Gen. Fehn's mFb assignment from 1-7-43 to 20-8-43. Bradley has a typo stating he was at "LXXXVI. Panzerkorps" which didn't exist- that was an Army Corps. Lexikon der Wehrmacht says LXXXVI. Armeekorps. Or was he actually at LXXVI. Panzerkorps? He was a General der Panzertruppen. Would anyone have the documentation that will solve this one?

Best,
Bill in Cleveland

User avatar
genstab
Member
Posts: 2116
Joined: 15 Jul 2003, 23:50
Location: The Big City on Lake Erie

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#5

Post by genstab » 01 Aug 2014, 01:52

Okay, gentlemen- new information. I happened to look on Wikipedia concerning General Fehn, and they say he temporarily relieved Ernst von Leyser at XXVI AK from 1-8-43 to 19-8-43. Now I know Wikipedia isn't the most reliable source, but I looked up my records for XXVI AK and saw I had a note that Gen. Fehn was Leyser's relief from 1-8-43 to 19-8-43 according to "Trials of Major War Criminals, Vol. IX: the High Command Case" which I have. I also have a note that he might have been there from 1-7-43. We have an additional Corps to investigate if nobody has Gen. Fehn's HPA card. How Bradley got LXXXVI Pz. Korps I can't imagine.

Best regards,
Bill in Cleveland

User avatar
askropp
Forum Staff
Posts: 7482
Joined: 08 May 2008, 00:42

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#6

Post by askropp » 01 Aug 2014, 13:25

Why was he executed by partisans in June 1945?
I don't know of any specific reason other than him being a German general. As it seems, a group of drunken partisans entered the prison cell of Fehn, General der Infanterie Werner von Erdmannsdorff, Generalleutnant Friedrich Stephan and Generalmajor Heinz Kattner and shot them all four in cold blood. Considering that the majority of the German generals executed in Yugoslavia at least got the benefit of a formal trial (may it have been fair or not), this deed should be classified as murder.
There are times in history when staying neutral means taking sides.

histan
Member
Posts: 1668
Joined: 14 Jan 2008, 18:22
Location: England

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#7

Post by histan » 02 Aug 2014, 13:01

I don't have NARA Roll that contains information on Fehn but with a bit of searching found out:

As is often the case, the problem starts with a mistake in Keilig. He lists for Fehn - XXVI Pz.K. (mdFb) 1.7.43 - 19.8.43.

Others have interpreted this in different ways. Bradley/Hildebrand seem to have decided that Pz Korps was correct and that it should have read LXXVI Pz Korps. Some have decided that XXVI was correct and that it should have said XXVI AK.

It looks like both of these interpretations are wrong.

This is taken from the NARA guide to the records for LXXXVI AK:
"Kriegstagebuch 3. War journal concerning operations, training, reorganization, coastal defense, security of rear areas, and enemy air activity. The Corps was commanded by Gen.d.Pi. Erwin Jaenecke, Apr 1 - Jun 3, 1943, Gen.Lt. Anton Freiherr von Mauchenheim gen. Bechtolsheim, Jun 3 - Jul 1, 1943, and Gen.d.Pz.Tr. Gustav Fehn, Jul 1 - Aug 20, 1943."

The same information is given on the HPA card containing the list of commanders from 1943 onwards (NARA T-78 R-896).

The mFb list maintained by the HPA (NARA T-78 R-39) has this entry:
"Gen.d.Pz.Tr. Fehn 1.11.42(2) stellv.Fhr. LXXXVI.A.K. 1.7.43 (vorauss.b.1.8.43)"

As for XXVI AK - this is taken from: Law Reports of the Trial of War Criminals Volume XII The German High Command Trial Volume XII, HMSO, 1949
"OTTO WOEHLER-General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General, Infantry) ; April, 1938, la (Operations Officer) Army Group 5 (later changed to AOK 14); October, 1939, to October, 1940, Chief of Staff XVII Corps; October, 1940, to May, 1942, Chief of Staff 11th Army; May, 1942, to February, 1943, Chief of Staff Army Group Centre; February, 1943, to July, 1943, Commanding General I Corps; July and August, 1943, Acting Commander XXVI Corps; August, 1943, to December, 1944, Commanderin-Chief 8th Army; December, 1944, to April, 1945, Commander-in-Chief Army Group South."

One of the two card files for Wöhler (NARA T-78 R-895) also shows this appointment:
"4.7.43 m.st.F.b XXVI AK"

Regards

John

User avatar
genstab
Member
Posts: 2116
Joined: 15 Jul 2003, 23:50
Location: The Big City on Lake Erie

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#8

Post by genstab » 02 Aug 2014, 21:23

John, thanks a million! You have solved that problem to my satisfaction with that profuse documentatiuon. I greatly appreciate your help.

With Gen. Woehler, however, this opens up more questions. The Nuremberg Trials volume XII says of him that he commanded I AK in July and August 1943 but I see Keilig and Mehner have him in command from 1-4-43.

Re XXVI AK, they say he was in command from August 1943 to December 1944. Perhaps titular commander but I have him to 1-8-43 then apparently Gen. von Leyser resumed his command to 31-10-43 (Bradley), Carl Hilpert 31-10-43 to 31-12-43 (Bradley but Haupt's "Heeresgruppe Nord" says he was in command from end 9-43), then Martin Grase 1-1-44 to 15-2-44 (Bradley and Die Geheimen Tagesberichte 10-12-43 Stellenbesetzung); then Anton Grasser 16-2-44 to 3-7-44 (Bradley) with Wilhelm Berlin mFb 11-5-44 to 13-6-44 (Bradley, Grasser biog) and Mehner says Gustav Fehn was mFb 3-7-44- to 6-7-44 and then Gerhard Matzky 6-7-44 (Keilig) to 4-45 (relieved by Curt Chill- Die Geheimen Tagesberichte 24-4-45 Stellenbesetzung).

So you see what problems we who cannot afford to buy NARA microfiche get into trying to make sense of printed secondary sources. John, I don't expect you to solve all my problems here unless you really have the time and inclination (or Christian charity)- but maybe if you can't then someone else on the Forum will step up. This is what we're here for- to help each other. And again I have a standing offer to try to help out with O/Bs as that's my specialty and the subject of my manuscript, to be published ANY YEAR NOW!

Best,
Bill in Cleveland

histan
Member
Posts: 1668
Joined: 14 Jan 2008, 18:22
Location: England

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#9

Post by histan » 03 Aug 2014, 21:05

Hi Bill

My main interest at the moment is in trying to sort out (to my satisfaction) the mass of mistakes and errors contained in the secondary sources about who commanded which Armee, Korps, Division, and the dates they were in command. Most of your questions relate to problems that I have either already had a look at or or on my list to look at. Every time I can help resolve an issue for you I am also resolving an issue for me.

This is what I have for XXVI. AK
Albert Wodrig KG 22.08.1939 - FR 01.11.1942
Ernst von Leyser mFb 01.11.1942 - 01.12.1942
Ernst von Leyser KG 01.12.1942 - FR 10.08.43
Otto Wöhler mstFb 04.07.1943 - mFb 8. Armee 15.08.1943
Karl Hilpert KG 15.08.1943 - mFb I. AK 10.11.1943
Martin Grase mFb 10.11.1943 - 01.01.1944 Grase and Hilpert swap commands
Martin Grase KG 01.01.1944 - FR 16.02.1944
Anton Grasser mFb 16.02.1944 - 01.05.1944
Anton Grasser KG 01.5.1944 - At FHQ then mFb AA Narwa 02.07.1944
Wilhelm Berlin mstFb 11.05.1944 - 15.06.1944 Grasser on leave
Gerhard Matzky mstFb 02.07.1944 - Grasser at FHQ
Gerhard Matzky mFb 25.07.1944 - 01.09.1944
Gerhard Matzky KG 01.09.1944 - mFb LV. AK Matzky and Chill swap commands
Curt Chill mFb 12.04.1945 -

Sources for dates are NARA T-78 R-896 (HPA Korps card); NARA T-78 R-39 (HPA mFb list); NARA T-78 R-886, R-889, R-890, R-895 (Card indexes for General officers)

All dates are "official dates" actual dates of change of command could differ.

Regards

John

User avatar
genstab
Member
Posts: 2116
Joined: 15 Jul 2003, 23:50
Location: The Big City on Lake Erie

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#10

Post by genstab » 03 Aug 2014, 23:19

Forever in your debt, John. The commanders of the various units- Corps up to Oberbefehlshaber- and their dates in command are a part of my forthcoming O/B book. So I'm nailing down what few loose ends I have while waiting for publication. My coauthor Tom Nutter is working with the publisher's contract copy person as he's retired and has the time. I believe they just finished the Corps O/Bs through the war, commanders and dates and unit history capsules of each one written by my coauthor as he has the doctorate in military history. But they will be able to amend before publishing so your help has been greatly appreciated in getting everything as complete and accurate as possible.

Everyone certainly appreciates your work in correcting the errors in our best secondary sources. I did something like it with the O/Bs- the official ones in Die Geheimen Tagesberichte, the KTB-OKW set, and Tessin's Army O/Bs with Corps and divisions. I found errors in all- yes, even in the official OKH Generalstab Operationen Abt. III schematics- and typed out errata lists. I was able to prove by other sources the correct division (or sometimes Corps) number at the particular location and date. Sometimes a division would appear in two different places- because the number of one was wrong by a digit. THAT was a real lot of fun! Sheesh!

Once again, my sincere gratitude.

Best,
Bill in Cleveland

iggy88
Member
Posts: 905
Joined: 15 Oct 2014, 19:27
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#11

Post by iggy88 » 26 Jul 2018, 07:34

From KTB XXI. Geb.AK:
"Der Kdr.Gen., Gen.d.Pz.Tr. Fehn, trifft 14,30 ein und übernimmt das Kdo. über XXI. Geb.A.K.“ (13 Oct 1943)

User avatar
genstab
Member
Posts: 2116
Joined: 15 Jul 2003, 23:50
Location: The Big City on Lake Erie

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#12

Post by genstab » 26 Jul 2018, 17:13

Thanks - also I need to ask whether Gen. d. Art Paul Bader was in command to 14 October. Bradley says to 10 Oct then Fhr.Res., Mehner doesn't list him at XXVI. AK at all nor does the Stellenbesetzung for 06.1943 - 08.1943.

Best,
Bill

iggy88
Member
Posts: 905
Joined: 15 Oct 2014, 19:27
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#13

Post by iggy88 » 26 Jul 2018, 19:24

Bill,
Please see the Bader thread. I posted info on him there which will answer your question.
Todd

User avatar
genstab
Member
Posts: 2116
Joined: 15 Jul 2003, 23:50
Location: The Big City on Lake Erie

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#14

Post by genstab » 26 Jul 2018, 22:04

Got it. Thanks a lot, Tod. Have a great August.
Best,
Bill

iggy88
Member
Posts: 905
Joined: 15 Oct 2014, 19:27
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Re: General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn

#15

Post by iggy88 » 27 Jul 2018, 04:44

Also, from KTB XXI. Geb.AK:
"Kdr. General ist zu einem Lehrgang nach Posen kommandiert und fährt am 13.2. nach Deutschland ab. Während seiner Abwesenheit übernimmt Generalleutnant Deutsch, Kdr. 297. Inf.Div. seine Vertretung.“ (13 Feb 1944)
"Kdr.General von seinem Kdo. nach Posen zurück und übernimmt wieder die Führung des Korps.“ (06 Mär 1944)

Post Reply

Return to “The Dieter Zinke Axis Biographical Research Section”