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Sunday, August 18, 2024

Erich Bärenfänger in the Training of German Grenadier


An excerpt from 'Die Deutsche Wochenschau' Nr. 722 - 5 July 1944: Oberstleutnant Erich Bärenfänger in the footage of training of new infantrymen of the German Army in 1944. Due to the immense pressure the Wehrmacht was under in 1944, training of new soldiers was often shortened to be able to deploy them to the frontlines more quickly. This was not only the case with infantry, also tank crews, fighter pilots and other specialized troops had way less training in 1944 then for example in 1940. Bärenfänger (1915-1945) himself was a German General during WWII. He was drafted to Infantry Regiment 123 in 1936 and promoted to Reserve Lieutenant in April 1939. Shortly before finishing his mandatory service, World War II broke out and he served as platoon leader in Poland and France. In September 1941, he became company commander, and took part in Operation Barbarossa, fighting in Ukraine and on Crimea. He later served as battalion commander, fighting in the Cuban bridgehead and later around Kerch. After the German retreat from Crimea, he served in various staff position in officer training. During the Battle of Berlin, Bärenfänger commanded one of the hard fought over defense areas, and was promoted from Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) to Generalmajor (Brigadier General), skipping the rank of Oberst (Colonel)! He tried to break out of Berlin with a small group on the night of May 2nd/3rd, and when that failed, he committed suicide with his wife. Bärenfänger was highly decorated, having received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (December 1941), Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (January 1942) the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (August 1942) mit Eichenlaub (May 1943) und Schwertern (January 1944).

Source :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHL8cxpPj1w

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