Ernst Kaether (25 September 1903 – 11 August 1999) was a German officer, who rose to the rank of general in the Wehrmacht during World War II.

Kaether was personally promoted to Generalleutnant by Adolf Hitler for this command.

Before Kaether could take command, Hitler cancelled his promotions, and Kaether was replaced by General Helmuth Weidling, commander of the understrength LVI Panzer Corps.

[2] For a brief period between Kaether and Weidling, Hitler himself took personal command of the Berlin defences.

Another newly-promoted Generalmajor, Erich Bärenfänger, was Hitler's "deputy" commander of the Berlin Defense Area during the brief period.