Bayerlein, General Fritz

1899–1970

   Bayerlein was a Panzer Commander who fought on all the fronts during the war. In 1940 after the Polish Campaign he served under GUDERIAN in France and then commanded a combat group in the XXXIX Corps’ advance on Moscow. In 1941 he was transferred to the Western Desert and became Chief of Staff to ROMMEL. He commanded the unsuccessful attack on Alam Halfa. On Rommel’s departure Bayerlein took direct command of the Afrika Korps. (After the war he helped write operational histories of the Desert Campaign.) He returned to Germany and was given command of the Panzer Lehr Division until the end of the war. This Division took part in the fighting at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.