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Fehn, Gustav

Date of birth:
February 21st, 1892 (Nuremberg/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:
June 5th, 1945 (Ljubljana/Slovenia, Yugoslavia)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Shot by Partisans. At that moment he served as Kommandierender General XV. Gebirgskorps with the rank of General der Panzertruppen.

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
September 30th, 1914
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
July 27th, 1915
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
May 1918
Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (1918)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
November 12th, 1918
Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
April 25th, 1919
Friedrich-August Kreuz 2.Klasse
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
April 25th, 1919
Friedrich-August Kreuz 1.Klasse
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
Awarded on:
December 1st, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  1.Klasse, 25 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Schützen-Regiment 33, 4. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
August 5th, 1940
Justified for the Knight’s Cross according to the following wartime excerpt…

“On the 15.06.1940 Oberst Fehn, commander of the Schützen-Regiment 33, reconnoitred the enemy occupied city of Chablis (which blocked the advance route to Dijon) from the foremost line without regard for the enemy fire. The elements of his Regiment that he sent in following his reconnaissance captured the city in a short time, and by this the required day’s objective was reached. His ruthless personal actions on the 16.06.1940 near Precy ensured that the 4. Panzer-Division would reach Dijon on this day.”

The following press article provides further insight into why he received the award…

“During operations in the West Oberst Fehn has led his Regiment into battle 23 times. His swift decision-making, clear orders and above all his personal example of ruthless action under enemy fire ensured that his Regiment was able to fulfill its assigned missions with minimal expenditure of time or manpower. On several occasions Oberst Fehn accelerated the advance of his Regiment through his own interventions and reconnaissance, and in doing so significantly contributed to the successes of the Division.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:
Kommandeur, 5. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
July 7th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 8th, 1942
Medaille

Sources

Photo