Bärenfänger, Erich (Generalmajor)
- Date of birth:
- January 12th, 1915 (Menden/Westfalen, Germany)
- Date of death:
- May 2nd, 1945 (Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany)
- Nationality:
- German (1933-1945, Third Reich)
Biography
Oberstleutnant Erich Bärenfänger led the defence against the advancing Soviet forces in the east of Berlin. During the fightings his wife stood by his side. Shortly before his death he was promoted to Generalmajor. Some story's state that he and his wife committed suicide when the attempted breakout of Hitlerjugend forces failed. Other sources state that they were killed during the fightings.
Promotions:
01.10.1937: Gefreiter
01.06.1938: Unteroffizier
20.04.1939: Leutnant der Reserve - RDA 01.04.1939
15.10.1941: Oberleutnant - RDA 01.02.1939
31.08.1942: Hauptmann - RDA 01.08.1942
10.06.1943: Major - RDA 01.04.1943
23.01.1944: Oberstleutnant - RDA 01.02.1944
25.04.1945: Generalmajor - RDA 20.04.1945
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Goldenes SA-Sportabzeichen
- Awarded on:
- November 12th, 1934
- Awarded on:
- October 2nd, 1936
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Führer, 11. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- June 12th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Führer, 11. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- June 21st, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Führer, 11. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- July 1st, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Adjutant, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- July 23rd, 1941
Silver version
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Adjutant, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- August 9th, 1941
Ordinul Coroana Romaniei Cavaler
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Adjutant, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- August 13th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Führer, 7. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- December 26th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Kompaniechef, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- January 10th, 1942
Voenen Orden "Za Hrabrost" IV stepen, 1 klas
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Kompaniechef, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- February 7th, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Führer III. / Infanterie-Regiment 123 / 50.Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- May 23rd, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Führer, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- August 5th, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Führer, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- August 7th, 1942
“On the night of the 29./30.06.1942 Oberleutnant Bärenfänger conducted a night attack on his own initiative against the bunker position south of 1658. The attack was a success, and the result was decisive. It enabled friendly forces to completely encircle and destroy those enemy forces in the Champagne ravine without excessive casualties. Furthermore, the Regiment was given the opportunity to launch a successful attack against the bunker position near 1670 during the early morning of the following day. This in turn allowed the 50. Division to thrust through to the southeastern city edge of Sevastopol on the 30.06.1942 without having to endure any unexpectedly hard combat.”
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Führer, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- August 14th, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Hauptmann (Captain)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- November 2nd, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Hauptmann (Captain)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- May 17th, 1943
243rd Award.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Major
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, III. Batailon, Grenadier-Regiment 123, 50. Infanterie-Division
- Awarded on:
- January 23rd, 1944
During the time periods 13.-17.11. and 04.-06.12.1943 Bärenfänger and his men repulsed attack after attack on the Kerch peninsula. Bärenfänger himself remained with his men despite receiving his 6th and 7th wounds during this time. Later, when a new Soviet offensive began on the 10.01.1944, he personally led an attack that recaptured an important hill (125.6). Another important and hotly contested hill (133.3) was held onto with bitter determination at the same time. Both of these hills were located to the north of Kerch (specifically to the northeast of Bulganak). Bärenfänger would later receive the Swords to his Knight’s Cross for his achievements in this area.
45th Award.
Was simultaniously promoted to Oberstleutnant.
45th Award.
Was simultaniously promoted to Oberstleutnant.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo: Wilco Vermeer
- - BERGER, F., Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern, Selbstverlag Florian Berger, Wien, Österreich, 2003.
- FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück, 1987.
- Holztrager H., In a raging inferno. Combat units of the Hitler Youth 1944-45
- Williamson, G., Knight’s Cross, Oak-Leaves and Swords Recipients 1941-45, Osprey Publishing Ltd., Great Britain, 2005
- Helden der Wehrmacht II, Sammelband (Miscellany), FZ-Verlag GmbH, München, Deutschland, 2003
- Axis Biographical Research
Photo
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