Bernhard Schlessinger
| Bernhard Schlessinger | |
 | |
| Generalleutnant Bernhard Schlessinger | |
| Born | 28 September 1856 Mengelberg, Pommern, Rotgeheim |
| Allegiance | Rotgeheim |
| Service/branch | Rotgeheimes Heer (to 1884) |
| Years of Service | 1875 – Present |
| Rank | Generalleutnant (Major General) |
| Commands Held | II VS-Panzerkorps |
| Battles/wars | 10 Days War |
| Spouse(s) | Lena Kohlburg |
| Relations | Valetin (son) Theodor (son) |
Bernhard Karl Schlessinger (born 28 September 1856) is a Generalleutnant (Major General) from Rotgeheim in the Verteidigungsstaffel. He is in command of the II VS-Panzerkorps, which totals around 75,000 soldiers divided into four divisions.
Although originally he had joined the Army of Rotgeheim in 1875, he switched over to the Verteidigungsstaffel when it was formed in 1884. He gained international fame during his command of the II VS-Panzerkorps during the 10 Days War, in which his unit was the first of the Verteidiungsstaffel to engage enemy forces of another country, as well as the most successful and decorated unit of the entire war and of all time.
He married Lena Kohlburg from Northern Prussia in 1876 while on a joint military exercise in the neighboring country. He has had three children with her, Valentin (born 22 January 1877), and Theodor (born 7 October 1878). In 1900 his son Valetin married Judith Leistner, with whom he has had one child, Johann (born 2 August 1901). His son Theodor married Theresa Müntefering in 1907, with whom he had one daughter, Katharina (born 6 July 1908).
Both of his sons currently serve in the Verteidigungsstaffel. The eldest, Valetin, is a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the 1st Panzer Battalion, 10th Panzer Regiment, 10th VS-Panzer Division Fuerstenburg. He fought at the Battle of Widerhausen and the Battle of Neuhäusser; in the latter engagement he was wounded in action and spent the rest of the war in a field hospital. The youngest son, Thedor, served in the Verteidigungsstaffel as an Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) in the 1st Panzer Battalion, 27th Panzer Regiment, in the 27th VS-Panzer Division Finnmarck. Theodor was involved in the fighting during the Battle of Widerhausen, the Battle of Grünberg, and the Battle for the Northwestern Coastline.
