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Gustav Fehn
Born (1892-02-21)21 February 1892
Died 5 June 1945(1945-06-05) (aged 53)
Place of birth Nuremberg
Place of death Ljubljana, Yugoslavia
Allegiance German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Rank General der Panzertruppe
Commands held

5. Panzer-Division

Afrika Korps
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

General Gustav Fehn (21 February 1892 – 5 June 1945) was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II and was the last commander of the Afrika Corps.

He served in infanterie-regiment 33 from April 1939 - July 1940 and then the 5. Panzer-Division. He was promoted to Generalmajor in August 1940 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. In August 1942 he was promoted to Generalleutnant and he served in the XXXX. Panzerkorps until November 1942 when he was promoted to General der Panzertruppe.

He was appointed acting commander of the Afrikakorps in November 1942 and served as its last commander until 15 January 1943 when he was injured in battle against the British. In this capacity he sent a final message to the High Command: “Ammunition exhausted. Equipment destroyed. In accordance with orders received, the Afrika Korps has fought to the last man”.

After he left hospital he served in the LXXXVI. Panzerkorps from July–August 1943, the XXI Army Corps from October 1943 - July 1944 and then the XXI. Mountain Corps in the Balkans until his surrender to Yugoslav partisans, who shot him without trial on 5 June 1945.

Awards[]

References[]

  • Scherzer, Veit (2007) (in German). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives]. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
Military offices
Preceded by
General der Panzertruppen Joachim Lemelsen
Commander of 5. Panzer-Division
25 November 1940 – 10 August 1942
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Eduard Metz
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Ernst von Leyser
Commander of XXVI. Armeekorps
1 July 1943 — 19 August 1943
Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Ernst von Leyser
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Ernst von Leyser
Commander of XV. Gebirgs-Armeekorps
1 November 1943 — 31 July 1944
Succeeded by
none
dissolved on 8 May 1945


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