I'm reading the 116 pz Div history and not getting a very good picture of von Funk - an officer of whom I know little. He was apparently annoyed with the div for moving too slowly - obviously there are two sides to such a story.
Can someone please give me some details on this officer or point me in the right direction? Information relating to the incident (at Mortain) would be helpful as well.
thanks very much
Reb
von Funk - XLVII Pz Corps
Moderator: Commissar D, the Evil
-
Jan-Hendrik
- Patron
- Posts: 1984
- Joined: Wed May 04, 2005 8:42 am
- Location: Wienhausen
- Contact:
![:[]](./images/smilies/icon_study.gif "Study"){kind=icon}
Jan Hendrik
Thanks - I don't read German sadly, but using the title Freiherr von Funk I was able to google my way to a bit more info.
I'm still however, not clear on the situation with von Funk and 116 pz - recriminations coming from both sides. Who was wrong? Or was this simply the stress of defeat upon both sides of the controversy?
thanks
Reb
Thanks - I don't read German sadly, but using the title Freiherr von Funk I was able to google my way to a bit more info.
I'm still however, not clear on the situation with von Funk and 116 pz - recriminations coming from both sides. Who was wrong? Or was this simply the stress of defeat upon both sides of the controversy?
thanks
Reb
Marko
Yeah - I believe 16 Pz got bogged down in the mud or somesuch on the ost front and came in for censure. I have my doubts about Scherwin - as I recall he got removed three times from command and bounced back twice.
While being seriously anti-nazi je managed to have enough support by party members to avoid the high jump and ended up commanded 90 PGD in Italy. I can't tell if he was seriously well connected, extemely talented or just plain damn lucky. Maybe a little bit of all three.
That's why I'm so interested in this. I'm guessing there is much more than meets the eye.
thanks
Reb
Yeah - I believe 16 Pz got bogged down in the mud or somesuch on the ost front and came in for censure. I have my doubts about Scherwin - as I recall he got removed three times from command and bounced back twice.
While being seriously anti-nazi je managed to have enough support by party members to avoid the high jump and ended up commanded 90 PGD in Italy. I can't tell if he was seriously well connected, extemely talented or just plain damn lucky. Maybe a little bit of all three.
That's why I'm so interested in this. I'm guessing there is much more than meets the eye.
thanks
Reb
Hard to say really, Reb, but I would still prefer that in desperate situation people do desperate things.
It's kind of strange, really, if you look at the actions of v.Schwerin's division in 1942/43, I think few would doubt in his leadership abilities - for example look at the battles at Elista, then the famous battles during the retreat from the Caucassus - he sure made a big name for himself back then. Likewise the annihilation of 4.GMC at Matvejev Kurgan in early 1943 and then the summer battles at Mius, followed by a pretty spectacular annihilation (together with 23.Pz.Div.) of 1.GMC and 23.TC and the defense of Zaporozhje. IMO 16.Pz.Gren.Div. undoubtedly earned the reputation in all of those battles and so did v.Schwerin. After all he did receive the Oakleaves and Swords in a span of 6 moths. But v.Schwerin was also successful with other units, for example, did you know he was among others the commander of the Grossdeutschland Regiment during the campaign in the West in 1940 or the commander of the famous Pz.Rgt.5 in the desert. Even Hitler remarked in one of the discussion that he considered v.Schwerin as a great commander.
Well about the charges against him. They weren't that innocent, in two cases the charges were brought before court martial, though later either withdrawn or he was cleared of them. The first case is pretty well covered in the 16.Pz.Gren.Div. history, while the other two in 116.Pz.Div. history, which I guess you're reading at the moment
. In this first case from February 1944 I think it's pretty clear that the responsibility for the collapse of the front was more due to the Corps leadership then in division's. I believe you're familiar with the other two cases.
If you look on the other hand Fretter-Pico or von Funck: Fretter-Pico was also eventually relieved of his position (nothing unusual) but perhaps more importantly he was co-responsible for the collapse of the front in Romania in summer 1944. You can read more about this HERE.
Von Funck was relieved right after the Normandy campaign, otherwise I don't think I ever came across any negative comments on his leadership. He was for a very long time (2 1/2 years) the commander of 7.Pz.Div and from late 1943 a Corps commander. Interestingly he was in 1940 foreseen as the commander of the German forces in Africa but was then found unsuitable for the job. That's about it, there a couple of biography specialists on the forum, like Jerry, hopefully they can share more light on the subject
Oh, just one small correction, Schwerin was towards the end of the war promoted to the Generald.Pz.Tr and named the commander of LXXVI. Panzerkorps in Italy.
Marko
It's kind of strange, really, if you look at the actions of v.Schwerin's division in 1942/43, I think few would doubt in his leadership abilities - for example look at the battles at Elista, then the famous battles during the retreat from the Caucassus - he sure made a big name for himself back then. Likewise the annihilation of 4.GMC at Matvejev Kurgan in early 1943 and then the summer battles at Mius, followed by a pretty spectacular annihilation (together with 23.Pz.Div.) of 1.GMC and 23.TC and the defense of Zaporozhje. IMO 16.Pz.Gren.Div. undoubtedly earned the reputation in all of those battles and so did v.Schwerin. After all he did receive the Oakleaves and Swords in a span of 6 moths. But v.Schwerin was also successful with other units, for example, did you know he was among others the commander of the Grossdeutschland Regiment during the campaign in the West in 1940 or the commander of the famous Pz.Rgt.5 in the desert. Even Hitler remarked in one of the discussion that he considered v.Schwerin as a great commander.
Well about the charges against him. They weren't that innocent, in two cases the charges were brought before court martial, though later either withdrawn or he was cleared of them. The first case is pretty well covered in the 16.Pz.Gren.Div. history, while the other two in 116.Pz.Div. history, which I guess you're reading at the moment
. In this first case from February 1944 I think it's pretty clear that the responsibility for the collapse of the front was more due to the Corps leadership then in division's. I believe you're familiar with the other two cases.If you look on the other hand Fretter-Pico or von Funck: Fretter-Pico was also eventually relieved of his position (nothing unusual) but perhaps more importantly he was co-responsible for the collapse of the front in Romania in summer 1944. You can read more about this HERE.
Von Funck was relieved right after the Normandy campaign, otherwise I don't think I ever came across any negative comments on his leadership. He was for a very long time (2 1/2 years) the commander of 7.Pz.Div and from late 1943 a Corps commander. Interestingly he was in 1940 foreseen as the commander of the German forces in Africa but was then found unsuitable for the job. That's about it, there a couple of biography specialists on the forum, like Jerry, hopefully they can share more light on the subject
Oh, just one small correction, Schwerin was towards the end of the war promoted to the Generald.Pz.Tr and named the commander of LXXVI. Panzerkorps in Italy.
Marko