Ernst Feßmann

Ernst Feßmann (6 January 1881 – 25 October 1962) was a German general of the ''Heer'' (German Army) who led the 267th Infantry Division in the early stages of World War II. Prior to the war, he was also notable for commanding one of the first Panzer Divisions.

Biography

A Bavarian born in 1881, Feßmann joined the Bavarian Army in 1900 as an ''Fahnen-junker'' (officer cadet) and was commissioned as a ''leutnant'' (lieutenant) in the cavalry. After service in the German Imperial Army during World War I, he was retained in the postwar ''Reichswehr'' (Imperial Defence). After a two-year period on the staff of the 7th ''Kraftfahr'' Battalion (motorcycle battalion), he was appointed its commander in 1924. Two years later, he was given command of the 17th Cavalry Regiment.

From 1931 to early 1933, Feßmann led the motorised battalion of the 2nd Artillery Regiment, before a period in the Soviet Union at the ''Reichswehrs secret ''Panzertruppenschule'' (armoured training school) at Kazan. Following Adolf Hitler's disbandment of the school in late 1933, Feßmann was made commander of the ''Kraftfahrlehrkommando'' (Motor Vehicle Training Command) at Zossen. He later commanded the Panzer ''Lehr'' Brigade.

In March 1935, the ''Reichswehr'' was reorganised as the ''Wehrmacht'' (Defence Force) and the ''Heer'' (Army) branch began a significant expansion which extended to the creation of the ''Panzerwaffe'' (Armoured Force). Feßman was appointed commander of the 3rd Panzer Division in Berlin on 15 October 1935, with the rank of ''generalleutnant'' (equivalent to the rank of major general in the United States Army). His new command was one of the first three panzer divisions to be created. The other two were the 1st Panzer Division formed in Weimar and commanded by Maximilian von Weichs and the 2nd Panzer Division formed in Würzburg and commanded by Heinz Guderian.

The 3rd Panzer Division was known as the Bear Division, after its divisional symbol and its 1st Panzer Regiment was drawn largely from Feßmann's previous command, the ''Kraftfahrlehrkommando''. Most of its panzer companies, which initially each consisted of only eight tanks, began equipping and training with ''Panzerkampfwagen I'' (armored fighting vehicle mark I). Feßmann retired from the ''Wehrmacht'' in September 1937 as a ''general der panzertruppe'' (General of Panzer Troops) but returned to active service at the outbreak of World War II.

Appointed commander of the newly formed 267th Infantry Division on 26 August 1939, Feßmann served on the Western Front and took part in the invasions of Belgium and France. After the fall of France in May 1940, his division garrisoned a sector along the English Channel for a year, before being transferred east for Operation Barbarossa. Before the invasion of the Soviet Union began, he was replaced as divisional commander by ''Generalmajor'' Friedrich-Karl von Wachter (''generalmajor'' is equivalent in rank to a brigadier general in the United States Army). He took up a staff post at Frankfurt and served here until he retired again in 1942. He was officially discharged from the ''Wehrmacht'' the following year. Settling in Pullach after the war, he died on 25 October 1962.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fesmann, Ernst
1881 births
1962 deaths
Generals of Panzer Troops
German Army personnel of World War I
Military personnel of Bavaria
Major generals of the Reichswehr
Military personnel from Bavaria