Erich Bärenfänger was born in Menden, Sauerland in 1915. This superb soldier (he joined army in 1936, and became a Leutnant in 1939) got both iron crosses for his action in the Westfeldzug, then got a german cross in gold in December 1941 for his continuously shown bravery. During the summer of 1942, he was an Oberleutnant and took part in the bloody attack of the fortress Sevastopol. He was awarded the Knight's Cross. Next summer he added Oak leaves during the campaign in Terek. In the winter of 43/44, he was a batallion commander in 98.Infanterie-Division. He was awarded with swords for his defensive action in Kertsch.

Bärenfänger made Generalmajor's rank at 30 years old, but during the final collapse of the Reich, he committed suicide on May 1st, 1945 in Berlin with his wife.

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Indeed an incredibly brave soldier who broke all tradition of the German élite general corps... A soldier, just a corporal who became the leader of many men... Sorry, the Germans tended to do that in WWII...

Well, he was first an enlisted man and he became a general! Here are his respective promotions:

Gefreiter der Reserve (01 Dec 1937)
Obergefreiter der Reserve(01 June 1938)
Stabsfeldwebel der Reserve (01 Oct 1938)
Leutnant der Reserve(01 Oct 1939)
Leutnant (01 Sep 1941)
Oberleutnant (01 Sep 1941)
Hauptmann(01 Aug 1942)
Major (10 June 1943)
Oberstleutnant(01 Feb 1944)
Overstepped the rank of Oberst
Generalmajor(28 Apr 1945)



Do you know another man who reached the rank of general incredibly soon? Brigadier general Francisco Franco, of the Spanish Army at the age of 33.

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Eleven ranks in nine years is very impressive. Was there the same class distinction in the German Army as there was in the British Army?

If so, that makes it all the more impressive.

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"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." --Voltaire

"Let justice be done though heaven should fall." - - Lucius Calpurnius