| Walter Fries | |
|---|---|
| File:Walter Fries.jpg | |
| Born | 22 April 1894 |
| Died | 6 August 1982 (aged 88) |
| Place of birth | Güsternheim/Dillkreis |
| Place of death | Weilburg an der Lahn |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1912 – 1945 |
| Rank | General der Panzertruppe |
| Commands held |
29th Panzergrenadier Division XXXXVI. Armeekorps |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Walter Fries (22 April 1894 – 6 August 1982) was a German General of the tank troops, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Adolf Hitler requested his death sentence in March 1945 for abandoning the Fortress Warsaw. The court did not follow this request and the verdict ruled not guilty.
Awards[]
- Iron Cross (1914)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Wound Badge (1914)
- in Black
- Cross of Honor
- Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Eastern Front Medal
- Infantry Assault Badge
- German Cross in Gold on 9 October 1942 as Oberst in Infanterie-Regiment 87 (mot.)[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Knight's Cross on 14 December 1941 as Oberst and commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 87 (mot.)[3]
- 378th Oak Leaves on 29 January 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 29. Panzergrenadier-Division[4]
- 87th Swords on 11 August 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 29. Panzergrenadier-Division[5]
- Mentioned two times in the Wehrmachtbericht (28 June 1944 and 29 July 1944)
Wehrmachtbericht references[]
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 28 June 1944 | In den schweren Abwehrkämpfen des Trasimenischen Sees haben die 29. Panzergrenadier-Division unter Führung von Generalleutnant Fries, die 4. Fallschirmjägerdivision unter Führung von Oberst Trettner und die 356. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Faulenbach, hervorragend durch Artillerie und Flakartillerie unterstützt, alle mit überlegenen Kräften geführten Durchbruchsversuche des Feindes unter besonders hohen Verlusten für den Gegner zum Teil im Nahkampf immer wieder abgewehrt.[6] | During the heavy defensive battles of Lake Trasimeno, the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division, led by Lieutenant General Fries, the 4th Airborne Division, led by Colonel Trettner and the 356th Infantry Division, led by Lieutenant General Faulenbach, superbly supported by artillery and antiaircraft artillery, again and again blocked all break through attempts of superior enemy forces and inflicted particularly high losses to the enemy in close combat. |
| 29 July 1944 (Addendum) | In den schweren Abwehrkämpfen südlich Florenz hat sich die hessisch-thüringische 29. Panzergrenadier-Division unter Führung von Generalleutnant Fries erneut hervorragend ausgezeichnet und bewährt.[7] | In the heavy defensive battles south of Florence, the Hessian-Thuringian 29th Panzer Grenadier Division, led by Lieutenant General Fries again brilliantly excelled themselves. |
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Alman, Karl (2008). Panzer vor - Die dramtische Geschichte der deutschen Panzerwaffe und ihre tapferen Soldaten. Würzburg, Germany: Flechsig Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88189-638-2.
- Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall (in German). ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2299-6.
External links[]
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The original article can be found at Walter Fries and the edit history here.