Carl Fleischer was a Norwegian general and the first land commander to win a major victory against the Germans in the Second World War.
Background
Fleischer was born in Bjørnør Rectory (now Roan) in Sør-Trøndelag as the son of the Church of Norway pastor Carl Edvard Fleischer (1843–1885) and Johanne Sophie Fergstad (1850–1926). After his father died, Fleischer moved with his mother to grow up in Trondheim. His childhood home was one characterized by Christianity, simplicity and frugality.
Education
Motivated by economic uncertainties, Fleischer joined the Norwegian Military Academy and graduated as the second best student in 1905. The academy instilled in young Fleischer a strong belief in that the first task of a military officer was to defend his country and that regulations were to be considered standing orders in critical situations.
Career
As commander of forces in the far north of his country he took over the province of North Norway when it was cut off. Withdrawing into the mountains after Eduard Dietl captured Narvik, he cooperated with Allied relief forces led by Lord Cork. Counterattacking under terrible weather conditions, the Norwegian general gave German troops their first setback of the war. Feeling betrayed by Lord Cork’s withdrawal, Fleischer accompanied his government to London in June 40 and became CinC of the Norwegian Army. After continuing arguments with the British he was ordered to Canada in 1942 as military attache and commander of Norwegian troops there but he committed suicide soon after reaching Ottawa.
Connections
His ancestors had migrated from Elbing in East Prussia to Norway, first with Tobias Fleischer (1630–1690) who found a position in Kongsberg. The current lineage is descended from Tobias' nephew Herman Reinhold Fleischer (1656–1712), who also had notable children in Denmark. Carl Gustav Fleischer was a descendant of Herman's son Philip Johan Fleischer (1699–1763). Notable relatives include Philip's brother Baltzer Fleischer and grandnephew Palle Rømer Fleischer, and Carl Gustav's brother, bishop Andreas Fleischer. Carl Gustav Fleischer was also a more distant relative of Carl August Fleischer, Nanna Fleischer, Agnes Fleischer and August Fleischer.
Carl Gustav Fleischer married Antonie "Toni" Charlotte Hygen (1888–1947) in 1919 in Kristiania. In his spare time Fleischer enjoyed watercolor painting and trout fishing.