the youngest general major in ww2?

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.

 

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.

 

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.