Soldaten Profile: Gefreiten Oskar Fensch
Extract from Das Liegnitz Tageblatt— 21.9.17:
Reprinted from the IR63 Die Frontsoldat Summer/Fall 1996

In keeping with our continuing support of our brave troops on the front lines, we again present a short biography of one of our own hometown soldiers, Gefreiter Oskar Friedrich Fensch of the 3. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 63, Imperial German Army.

Oskar Fensch was born in Leipzig, Prussia on January 31, 1871 the son of Karl Friedrich Fensch, a veteran of the Uhlans of the Prussian Army, distinguished for his service to the Kaiser in the battle of Königgratz and the glorious victory of German arms over the French in the last war. After separation from service, Karl returned to his hometown of Leipzig and, shortly after, Oskar, first of three sons and a daughter, was born. Although fond of his hometown, Karl decided that such a large city was not conducive to the raising of a young family, so he and his wife Malwine moved to Liegnitz to pursue his vocation of machinist.

Young Oskar passed through the local schools as diligently as any German youth, graduating from the Ritter academy in 1889 with distinguishing marks in writing and history. He spent the free hours of his youth boating and swimming on the Katzbach river, and developing his skills in marksmanship hunting in the local forests and shooting with his boyhood chums in the rifle club. He was a devout member of Saints Peter and Paul Lutheran Church. Upon exiting the gymnasium he performed the required military service to his Kaiser, serving with Grenadier-Regiment König Wilhelm I (2. Westpreußisches) Nr. 7, (of the 9. Infanterie-Division) this being the home unit of Liegnitz. His three years active service passed uneventfully with the exception of being posted to the Kaiser's new colony of the Bismark Archipelago in the Pacific. Of this service, Gefreiter Fensch told the Tageblatt that "The voyage over the ocean was beautiful, but dull. The Archipelago was beautiful, but dull. And the return to my Fatherland was beautiful, and the highlight of my overseas duty!"

After leaving active service, he entered the Landwehr and began his career as a teacher in the Liegnitz schools. Indeed, many of our brave young Musketiers received their first instruction in duty and service to Country from Gefreiter Fensch. However, teaching was not the only ability displayed by the Gefreiter, so from this occupation he established a position in the financial field, "I thought it would be nice, at one point in my life, to hold a job that paid well, just to see what it was like!" he laughed) and from there, entered the field of journalism as a reporter for this newspaper.

As young bachelors will, while on a holiday excursion, he made the acquaintance of a young lady, Fräulein Linda Wiedemann of Neiße, and, in pursuit of her, transferred his employ to that city. Thus it was that, settled in Neiße with wife, sons (Joachim and Nathan) and career, and being now a part of the Landsturm, Herr Fensch was called to duty in 1915. Since he had relocated, he was assigned to serve with his new unit, Infanterie-Regiment 63, rather than return to his old unit in the 9. ID.

Proving the value of the Landsturm soldiers, Herr Fensch received his Gefreiter's rank along with an Iron Cross, 2nd Class for his leadership in an attack on the enemy lines early upon arriving in the front. During an intense attack upon the enemy trenches, Herr Fensch followed the instructions of his Sergeant who told him prior to the engagement to assume the initiative should anything befall him (the Herr-Sergeant Graf) When that eventuality occurred due to the concussion of a shell which numbed much of the squad temporarily, Herr Fensch, awakening first, proceeded with a rush on the line to clear the enemy trench with several well-flung grenades, thus allowing the company to follow and capture the position.

It was a bittersweet honor for the new Gefreiter, however, because shortly after the recommendation for the Iron Cross was made, even before Herr Fensch was aware he was to receive it came word that his father, Karl had passed away. Although at first his request for bereavement leave was declined due to the needs of the Army at the front, when it was made known to his superiors that not only had he been recommended for an award for valor, but that his father was also a veteran and hero of the Fatherland, the necessary time was immediately granted.

It was while he was home for his duty to family that he provided the information for this article. The reporter, a friend from his days here, attended the funeral of the old Uhlan and gained the background information for our series on "The Frontsoldiers of Liegnitz."

When asked if he had any words for the citizens of his old hometown, Gefreiter Fensch replied, "Support your soldiers, support your Kaiser and support the War Loan!" And then with a grin he added, "And send us some good German beer. All we have up there is captured French wine!"

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