Gustav Fehn

Who was Gustav Fehn?

General Gustav Fehn 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.