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Fischer, Wolfgang (General der Panzertruppen)

Date of birth:
December 11th, 1888 (Carolath/Upper Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:
February 1st, 1943 (Sbikka, Tunisia)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Bordj-Cedria
Plot: 2A. Grave: 2.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
March 18th, 1910: Fahnenjunker;
August 18th, 1911: Leutnant (Patent: 20 augustus 1908);
September 20th, 1918: Hauptmann;
February 1st, 1932: Major;
October 1st, 1934: Oberstleutnant;
August 1st, 1937: Oberst;
August 1st, 1941: Generalmajor;
November 1st, 1942: Generalleutnant;
April 1st, 1943: General der Panzertruppen (posthumously).

Career:
March 18th, 1910: 5. Niederschlesische Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 154;
August 2nd, 1914: Königlich Bayerisches Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 7;
November 1st, 1915: Adjutant 3. Landwehr-Division;
October 8th, 1917: Adjutant 22. Landwehr-Infanterie-Brigade;
?: Freiwilligen-Bataillon 15;
September 10th, 1919: Reichswehr-Schützen-Regiment 58;
February 1920: Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 12;
September 27th, 1920: 3. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment;
1923 - 1927: Adjutant 3. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment;
1925: Chef 8. (MG.) Kompanie, 3. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment;
1927: Chef 14. Kompanie, 3. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment;
January 31st, 1929 - 30 september 1934: Chef 7. Kompanie, 6. Infanterie-Regiment;
1931-1932: Stab Ausbildungs-Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 6;
October 1st, 1934: Bataillonskommandeur Infanterie-Regiment Neumünster;
February 4th, 1938: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 69;
October 27th, 1939: Kommandeur 10. Schützen-Brigade;
August 2nd, 1941: Kommandeur 10. Panzer-Division.

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Awarded on:
1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  1.Klasse, 25 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 69, 20. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), Heer
Awarded on:
September 4th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 69
Awarded on:
September 17th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Schützen-Brigade 10, 10.Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
June 3rd, 1940
The following wartime excerpt describes why Fischer was awarded the Knight’s Cross as follows…

“Always fighting at the head of his Brigade with exemplary bravery, he achieved a breakthrough through the challenging and heavily fortified Ardennes mountains, captured Sedan, forced the crossing over the Maas and rolled up the fortified line that was guarding it. The capture of the naval fortress of Calais is largely to his credit.”

64th Heer Award.
Submitted on May 29th 1940.
Preliminary document and decoration on June 3rd 1940 to Heeresgruppe B.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 10. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
April 22nd, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Award 111/7
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 10. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
December 9th, 1942
The following wartime excerpt describes why Fischer was awarded the Oakleaves as follows…

“Generalmajor Fischer was heavily involved in the fighting near Tebourba on the 02.-03.12.1942. Here 1100 prisoners and over 40 guns were captured. Over 70 enemy tanks were also destroyed in this time. On the 02.12.1942 the 11th British Brigade was shattered, and the US Combat Command B lost the majority of its tanks. Generalmajor Fischer was the driving force behind these attacks. The planned enemy breakthrough between Bizerta and Tunis was prevented. The retreat of Rommel’s Armee to Tunis became a very achievable task thanks to this victory.”

152nd Award.
Submitted on December 6th 1942.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Sources

Photo