Erich Bärenfänger

Erich Bärenfänger (12 January 1915 – 2 May 1945) was an officer in the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer) during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Background
Bärenfänger was born on in Menden, Province of Westphalia, Germany. He was the son of an upper post office secretary.

Bärenfänger joined the Storm Troopers or "brownshirts" (Sturmabteilung or SA) in 1933.

In October 1936, Bärenfänger joined an infantry regiment and, after attending a reserve officer candidate training course, he was promoted to Sergeant. In April 1939, Bärenfänger was promoted to Second Lieutenant of the Reserve.

From September 1939 to June 1940, Bärenfänger was a platoon leader during the Polish and French campaigns. In early 1941, he participated in the Campaign in the Balkans.

In June 1941, Bärenfänger was involved in the attack on the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa. On the Eastern Front, he fought on the Taman Peninsula at the Mius and in the Kuban position on the Crimean Peninsula.

In the Caucasus, he distinguished himself for bravery before the enemy and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Bärenfänger also received several foreign bravery medals from nations allied to Germany. He was appointed the inspector of the Hitler Youth military training.

Berlin, 1945
Towards the end of World War II, Bärenfänger took part in the Battle for Berlin.

According to Read and Fisher in "The Fall of Berlin", German dictator Adolf Hitler promoted thirty-year-old Lieutenant Colonel (Oberstleutnant) Bärenfänger to Major-General (Generalmajor) on 22 April 1945.

On 26 April, due to the direct command of Hitler, Bärenfänger was given command of defence sectors A and B. Bärenfänger mounted at least two unsuccessful armored attacks northwards up the Schönhauser Allee. The second was on 1 May.

Members of SS-Brigadeführer (Major-General) Wilhelm Mohnke's "break out group" saw quite a sight thanks to Bärenfänger. On 1 May, the group left the Führerbunker. As they made good their escape, there before them they saw a "host" of new "Tiger Tanks" and "artillery pieces" arrayed around the Flak tower as if "on Parade." The young Major-General Bärenfänger was allegedly seated in the turret cupola of one of the "Tigers" thus arrayed.

On 2 May, Bärenfänger, a devoted Nazi, committed suicide with his young wife in a side street of Berlin.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (12 June 1940)
 * 1st Class (21 June 1940)
 * Infantry Assault Badge in Silver (9 August 1941)
 * Wound Badge
 * in Black (1 July 1940)
 * in Silver (9 August 1941)
 * in Gold (10 January 1942)
 * Infantry Assault Badge in Silver (3 July 1941)
 * Crimea Shield (2 November 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Order of the Crown of Romania with Swords (13 August 1941)
 * Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (14 August 1942)
 * German Cross in Gold (26 December 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
 * Knight's Cross on 27 August 1942 as Oberleutnant and leader of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 123
 * 243rd Oak Leaves on 17 May 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment 123
 * 45th Swords on 23 January 1944 as Major and commander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment 123
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
 * Order of Bravery (Bulgaria, 7 February 1942)
 * Medal of the Royal Bulgarian infantry in Silver (7 February 1942)