Hans von Funck
German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II
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Hans Emil Richard Freiherr von Funck (23 December 1891 – 14 February 1979)[1] was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II, who commanded the 7th Panzer Division and the XXXXVII Panzer Corps.[2]
Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany
Hans von Funck | |
|---|---|
,_Generalleutnant_Hans_Freiherr_von_Funck.png) | |
| Born | 23 December 1891 |
| Died | 14 February 1979 (aged 87) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany |
Branch | German Army |
Service years | 1914–1945 |
Rank | General der Panzertruppe |
| Nickname | Funck |
| Commands | 7th Panzer Division XXXXVII Panzer Corps |
Conflicts | World War I Spanish Civil War World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Early life
Hans Emil Richard Freiherr von Funck was born in Aachen, Germany.[3] He was the son of the president of the Prussian region of Köslin, Paul Johannes von Funck, and Marie von Funck von Lützow.[3] He graduated from a grammar school in Köslin, now Koszalin in Poland.
From Easter 1911 until summer 1914, von Funck studied law in Griefswald and Freiburg.[3]
Married life
Career
Funck joined the German army in August 1914, and during World War I he was awarded the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class, the Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg and the Wound Badge in silver.[4] Funck was retained in the Reichswehr after the war. In July 1933, he was appointed to the General Staff. In 1936, he served in the Spanish Civil War as a leader of the German National Army in Spain. In 1940, he was appointed as the commander of the 3rd Panzer Brigade.
In 1941, Funck was given command of the 7th Panzer Division as the successor to Erwin Rommel.[2] Originally he was to have commanded the Afrika Korps, but Hitler loathed Funck, as he had been a personal staff officer of Werner von Fritsch until Fritsch was dismissed in 1938.[5] He held this command on the central and southern sections of the Eastern Front. On 15 July 1941, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
On 1 February 1944, Funck was promoted to General der Panzertruppe and appointed as the commanding general of the XXXXVII Panzer Corps, initially on the eastern and later the western fronts.[6] During the Battle for Normandy, he accused Gerhard von Schwerin of "passive resistance, cowardice and incompetence" over the Vire counterattack on 28 July. Less than four hours before the start of Operation Luttich, Gunther von Kluge received an order from Hitler that Heinrich Eberbach rather than Funck was to lead it, although Kluge managed to persuade OKW to postpone the transfer of command.[5]
On 4 September 1944, Funck was moved into the reserve of the OKH. Funck was interned as a war criminal in the Soviet Union from August 1945 until his release in 1955.[3]
Death
Awards
- Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (12 June 1915) & 1st Class (2 December 1917)[7]
- Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg[4]
- Wound Badge in silver[4]
- Medalla de la Campaña de España (1936-1939)[8]
- Medalla Militar Individual de España[8]
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class & 1st Class (May 1940)[7]
- German Cross in Gold on 14 March 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 7. Panzer-Division[9]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 15 July 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of the 7. Panzer-Division[10]
- 278th Oak Leaves 22 August 1943 on 22 August 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of 7. Panzer-Division[10]
