(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins)

Generalmajor Erich Bärenfänger

Born: 12 Jan 1915 in Menden, District Iserlohn
Died: 01 May 1945 in Berlin (Suicide)

Promotions:
Gefreiter (01 Oct 1937); Gefreiter (ROA) (01 Dec 1937); Unteroffizier (ROA) (01 Jun 1938); Feldwebel (ROA) (01 Oct 1938); Leutnant der Reserve (01 Apr 1939); Leutnant (01 Sep 1941); Oberleutnant (01 Sep 1941); Hauptmann (01 Aug 1942); Major (10 Jun 1943); Oberstleutnant (01 Feb 1944); Oberst übersprungen; Generalmajor (28 Apr 1945)

Career:
Entered Army Service (Reserves) (16 Oct 1936); Active-Officer (01 Sep 1941)
Conscripted into the 67th Infantry-Regiment (16 Oct 1936-09 Nov 1938)
Reserve-Officer-Aspirant-Course (04 Apr 1938-30 Apr 1938)
Transferred into the 123rd Border-Infantry-Regiment (09 Nov 1938-20 Apr 1939)
Platoon-Leader in the 123rd Border-Infantry-Regiment (20 Apr 1939-26 Aug 1939)
Platoon-Leader in the 123rd Infantry-Regiment (26 Aug 1939-06 Jun 1940)
Wounded, Hospital (06 Jun 1940-14 Jul 1940)
Transferred into the 122nd Infantry-Replacement-Battalion (14 Jul 1940-30 Aug 1940)
Platoon-Leader in the 123rd Infantry-Regiment (30 Aug 1940-10 Sep 1940)
Acting-Adjutant of the III. Battalion of the 123rd Infantry-Regiment (10 Sep 1940-20 Sep 1940)
Adjutant of the III. Battalion of the 123rd Infantry-Regiment (20 Sep 1940-24 Sep 1941)
Wounded (12 Jul 1941)
Wounded (05 Aug 1941)
Wounded (21 Aug 1941)
Company-Leader in the 123rd Infantry-Regiment (24 Sep 1941-18 Dec 1941)
Wounded (21 Nov 1941)
Wounded (22 Nov 1941)
Leader of the III. Battalion of the 123rd Infantry-Regiment (18 Dec 1941-01 Jan 1942)
Company-Chief in the 123rd Infantry-Regiment (01 Jan 1942-01 Oct 1942)
Leader of the III. Battalion of the 123rd Infantry-Regiment (10 May 1942-30 Sep 1942)
Commander of the III. Battalion of the 123rd Grenadier-Regiment (01 Oct 1942-00 Feb 1944)
At the same time, Leader of the 123rd Grenadier-Regiment (29 Oct 1943-30 Oct 1943)
Führer-Reserve – Detached to Regimental Leaders Course (00 Feb 1944-18 Jun 1944)
Placed to the disposal of the Reich’s Youth Leader as Inspector of the Military Training Camp (18 Jun 1944-01 Aug 1944)
Detached to the General-Inspectorate for the Army Youth Leadership (30 Jun 1944-28 Aug 1944)
General-Inspector of the Army Youth Leadership (15 Jul 1944-01 Nov 1944)
Führer-Reserve OKH and Detached to the Reich’s Youth Leadership, Inspector of the Defence Efficiency Camp of the Hitler Youth (01 Nov 1944-24 Apr 1945)
Battle-Commandant of Section A of the Berlin Defensive District (24 Apr 1945-01 May 1945)
At the same time, Battle-Commandant of Section B of the Berlin Defensive District (25 Apr 1945-01 May 1945)
After a failed breakout from a cellar in a ruined house, by the Underground Station Prenzlauer Berg – he committed suicide (01 May 1945)

Decorations & Awards:
- Ritterkreuz (1087): am 07.08.1942 als Oberleutnant und Führer III. Bataillon/ Infanterie-Regiment 123
- Eichenlaub (243): am 17.05.1943 als Hauptmann und Kommandeur III. Bataillon/ Grenadier-Regiment 123 (Überreichung des Eichenlaubs durch Adolf Hitler)
- Schwerter (45): am 23.01.1944 als Major und Kommandeur III. Bataillon/ Grenadier-Regiment 123 (13.02.1944: Überreichung der Schwerter im FHQ Rastenburg durch Adolf Hitler)
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (42/10): am 26.12.1941 als Leutnant der Reserve und Führer 7. Kompanie/ Infanterie-Regiment 123
- EK I: 21.06.1940
- EK II: 12.06.1940
- SA-Sportabzeichen: 12.11.1934
- Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen
- Verwundetenabzeichen, in Schwarz: 01.07.1940
- Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber: 23.07.1941
- Verwundetenabzeichen, in Silber: 09.08.1941
- Ritterkreuz des Kgl. Rumän. Ordens der Krone mit Schwertern: 13.08.1941
- Verwundetenabzeichen, in Gold: 10.01.1942
- Kgl. Bulgar. Tapferkeitsorden IV. Klasse: 07.02.1942
- Ehrenzeichen der Kgl. Bulgar. Infanterie in Silber: 07.02.1942
- Kgl. Rumän. Erinnerungsmedaille “Kreuzzug gegen den Kommunismus”: 23.05.1942
- Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942”: 05.08.1942
- Nennung im Ehrenblatt des Heeres (1129): am 14.08.1942 als Oberleutnant und Führer III. Bataillon/ Infanterie-Regiment 123/ Tat vor Sewastopol am 07.06.1942
- Krimschild: 02.11.1942





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