Georg Feig

Georg Karl Feig
Born	(1899-02-27)27 February 1899 Annaberg, Germany
Died	Wiesbaden, Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Rank	Oberstleutnant
Unit	1. Panzer-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Oberstleutnant Georg Karl Feig (27 February 1899 – 12 February 1970) was a Lieutenant Colonel of the German Army in Nazi Germany and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Early life

Georg Feig was born on 27 February 1899, in the town of Annaberg in Saxony, Germany to Karl and Mina Feig. Feig completed an apprenticeship and business related studies in 1916. The following year found Feig working in a management capacity for a large toy manufacturing firm before joining the German Imperial Army to fight in the First World War as a member of Grenadier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen (2. Königlich Sächsisches) Nr. 101 on 21 June 1917. In September 1918 Feig earned his first award, the Iron Cross 2nd Class, in what would ultimately prove to be a highly decorated military career. Feig was discharged from active duty on April 1, 1919. Feig's rank upon discharge was that of Grenadier (Private).

World War II

Pre-War Nazi Germany

In 1934, a year before the official rearmament of Germany began, Feig took part in military exercises with local units, the 10th and 11th Infantry Regiments. A year later, and now a Gefreiter, Feig exercised with the 1st Schützen-Regiment; a unit eventually incorporated into the 1st Panzer Division. Now attached to the 1st Schützen-Regiment, Feig was promoted in relatively short succession from Gefreiter to Unteroffizier and then to Wachtmeister in March and August 1937, respectively. Feig received his second award, the Sudetenland Medal, for his regiment's participation in the German annexation of the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.

Second World War

By the Invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, the newly promoted Leutnant Feig was leading a platoon in 8th Company of the 1st Schützen-Regiment. During the campaigns in Belgium and France in May and June 1940, Feig, now an Oberleutnant, was in command of the 7th Company of the 1st Schützen-Regiment.

Barbarossa

Feig led 3rd Company of the 113th Schützen-Regiment as the 1st Panzer Division spearheaded the advance into Soviet territory. After convalescing from a wound received in June, Feig returned to his division in September as it prepared to assault the city of Leningrad. Feig's division, after the siege upon Leningrad subsided, was withdrawn, in order to participate in the planned assault upon Moscow. Feig's unit, again, spearheaded the division's advance. It was during these actions that Feig's service was recognized by the awarding of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Promotions and Decorations

Promotions

• 10.3.1935 - Gefreiter d.R. u. Reserve-Offizier-Anwärter (Lance Corporal of the Reserve and Reserve Officer Candidate)
• 3.1.1937 - Unteroffizier d.R. u. Reserve-Offizier-Anwärter (Sergeant of the Reserve and Reserve Officer Candidate)
• 8.10.1937 - Wachtmeister d.R. u. Reserve-Offizier-Anwärter (Sergeant Major of the Reserve and Reserve Officer Candidate)
• 1.1.1939 - Leutnant d.R. (2nd Lieutenant of the Reserve)
• 4.1.1940 - Oberleutnant d.R. (1st Lieutenant of the Reserve)
• 1.1.1942 - Hauptmann d.R. (Captain of the Reserve)
• 2.1.1943 - Major d.R. (Major of the Reserve)
• 6.1.1944 - Oberstleutnant d.R. (Lieutenant Colonel of the Reserve)

Decorations and awards

• Iron Cross 2nd Class on 12 September 1918
• Sudetenland Medal on 6 November 1939
• Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 26 May 1940
• Iron Cross 1st Class on 25 July 1940
• Panzer Assault Badge on 1 November 1940
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 December 1941 as Oberleutnant of the Reserve and chief of the 3./Schützen-Regiment 113
• Wound Badge in Black on 7 March 1942
• Wound Badge in Silver on 30 January 1944
• German Cross in Gold on 23 May 1944
• Close Combat Clasp in Bronze on 29 June 1944

References

Bibliography

• Kurowski, Franz (1975). Grenadiere Generale Kameraden (in German). Ulm/Donau, Germany: Erich Pabel Verlag Rastatt. ASIN B002C31UFC.