Ernst Feßmann
| Ernst Feßmann | |
|---|---|
| Born |
6 January 1881 Ofersee, Bavaria |
| Died | 25 October 1962 (aged 81) Pullach, Bavaria |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch | Army |
| Years of service | 1900–37, 1939–43 |
| Rank | General der Panzertruppe |
| Commands held | 3rd Panzer Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
Ernst Feßmann (6 January 1881 – 25 October 1962) was a German general of the Heer (German Army) who led the 267th Infantry Division in the early stages of World War II. Prior to the war, he was also notable for commanding one of the first Panzer Divisions.
A Bavarian born in 1881, Feßmann joined the Bavarian Army in 1900 as an Fahnen-junker (officer cadet) and was commissioned as a leutnant (lieutenant) in the cavalry. After service in the German Imperial Army during World War I, he was retained in the postwar Reichswehr (Imperial Defence). After a two-year period on the staff of the 7th Kraftfahr Battalion (motorcycle battalion), he was appointed its commander in 1924. Two years later, he was given command of the 17th Cavalry Regiment.
From 1931 to early 1933, Feßmann led the motorised battalion of the 2nd Artillery Regiment, before a period in the Soviet Union at the Reichswehr's secret Panzertruppenschule (armoured training school) at Kazan. Following Adolf Hitler's disbandment of the school in late 1933, Feßmann was made commander of the Kraftfahrlehrkommando (Motor Vehicle Training Command) at Zossen. He later commanded the Panzer Lehr Brigade.
In March 1935, the Reichwehr was reorganised as the Wehrmacht (Defence Force) and the Heer (Army) branch began a significant expansion which extended to the creation of the Panzerwaffe (Armoured Force). Feßman was appointed commander of the 3rd Panzer Division in Berlin on 15 October 1935, with the rank of generalleutnant (lieutenant general). His new command was one of the first three panzer divisions to be created. The other two were the 1st Panzer Division formed in Weimar and commanded by Maximilian von Weichs and the 2nd Panzer Division formed in Würzburg and commanded by Heinz Guderian.
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