First Wehrmacht serviceman killed: China 1937

[Peter H]

Can someone verify that the first German Wehrmacht member killed on active service occurred in 1937 against the Japanese?

This seems to be floating on the web as a believe or not type WW2 subject.No name or details are given,but I assume that he was an adviser to the Chinese.

Thanks,
Peter

[zstar]

All i know is that German instructors were helping Chinese soldiers in the Battle of Shanghai and maybe have been killed by Japanese aerial bombardment of the city.

[ohrdruf]

German Wehrmacht casualties in action occurred during the Spanish civil war from 1936.

[mars]

I doubt it, Peter,it is more likely that the first German Wehrmacht member was killed in the Spanish civil war

[Peter H]

Thanks guys.

Leutnant Ekkehard Hefter was the first German fatality in Spain,the 28 September 1936,when his Heinkel crashed.

[RJcccc]

Hi,Peter,
There were no details in this discussion about that German. Where did you read about it? Perhaps it was a rumor made by Germanophiles in China.

[Peter H]

Hi R.J.

It pops up on a lot on some of those WW2 quizes you find on the net--"When and where was the first Wehrmacht serviceman killed in action?"

Of course the supposed answer of China and 1937 never supplies details of whom it was.

Regards
Peter

[Peter H]

Said to be Leutnant von Schmeling,Battalion commander,88th Division.