Joachim Degener

Joachim Degener was a German general during World War II. A lifelong professional soldier, he served his country as a junior officer in World War I, a staff officer in the inter-war period and a brigade-level commander during World War II.

Biography
Born on 28 November 1893 in Metz, Joachim Degener joined the German military straight from school in 1912, and in the First World War, he was an Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant). He served in the Field in the 4th Squadron, then in the 13th Hussar-Regiment, and eventually in the 17th Hussar-Regiment. Oberst at the beginning of the Second World War, he assumed command of the 5th Rifle-Brigade until 1941. He was nominated commander of Würzburg from February 1941 to April 1944.

First detached to Army Group North Ukraine as Commandant of the Strongpoint Position of Kovel in April 1944, he was detached to the Military-Commander of France soon after. Joachim Degener was nominated Field-Commandant in Perpignan on July 1944. Leader of the Battle-Group "Degener", he assumed command of the 189th Infantry-Division from October to December 1944. Then, Degener fought in Hungary. In charge of road block construction in Austria, Degener was captured by Major General Stanley Eric Reinhart's 261st Infantry Regiment. Degener was released on May 1948 and died on September 1953, in Würzburg.

Promotions

 * Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (5 April 1913);
 * Fähnrich (16 June 1913);
 * Leutnant (22 March 1914);
 * Oberleutnant (20 May 1917);
 * Rittmeister (1 February 1925);
 * Major (1 April 1934);
 * Oberstleutnant (1 August 1936);
 * Oberst (1 April 1939);
 * Generalmajor (1 November 1942)

Works

 * Greiner, Heinz, Joachim Degener: Aufgabenstellung und Übungsleitung mit praktischen Beispielen, Berlin: Mittler, 1938.
 * Greiner, Heinz, Joachim Degener: Gefechtsführung und Kampftechnik, Berlin: Mittler, 1937.