Hans von Funck (23 December 1891 – 14 February 1979) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II, who commanded the 7th Panzer Division and the XXXXVII Panzer Corps.
Hans von Funck
| |
|---|---|
| Born | (1891-12-23)23 December 1891 Aachen, Rhine Province, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 14 February 1979(1979-02-14) (aged 87) Viersen, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire Weimar Republic  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ | Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1945 |
| Rank |  General der Panzertruppe |
| Commands held | 7th Panzer Division XXXXVII Panzer Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War I Spanish Civil War World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Hans von Funck joined the German army in August 1914 and during World War I he was awarded the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd Class. 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. Originally he was to have commanded the Afrika Corps, but Hitler loathed von Funck, as he had been a personal staff officer of Werner von Fritsch until von Fritsch was dismissed in 1938.[1] 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. During the Battle for Normandy he (who was thoroughly disliked) accused Gerhard von Schwerinofpassive 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.[1]
On 4 September 1944 he 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.
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