Hans Fritsche (officer)

Hans Martin Fritsche
Birth name	Hans Martin Fritsche
Born	24 June 1909 Tillowitz, Silesia
Died	27 May 1993 (aged 83) Hanau, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1935–45
Rank	Oberst
Commands held	Grenadier-Regiment 11
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Kursk Battle of Smolensk (1943) Operation Bagration Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive Minsk Offensive East Prussian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Police officer

Hans Martin Fritsche (24 June 1909 – 27 May 1993) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Hans Fritsche was captured by American troops in May 1945 and was released in mid-June.

Awards and decorations

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (2 October 1936)^[1]
• West Wall Medal (20 March 1940)^[1]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 July 1941)^[1][2]
  • 1st Class (8 February 1942)^[1][2]
• Infantry Assault Badge (18 November 1941)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (26 March 1942)^[1]
  • in Silver^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal (3 August 1942)^[1]
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Silver (21 January 1945)^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 10 March 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 528^[3]
  • 307th Oak Leaves on 2 October 1943 as Major and commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 528^[4]
• German Cross in Gold on 18 March 1845 as Oberst in Grenadier-Regiment 11^[5]

References

Citations

1. Wegmann 2010, p. 261.
2. Thomas 1997, p. 185.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 157.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 63.
5. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 124.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [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] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Stockert, Peter (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 4 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 4] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-932915-03-1.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
• Wegmann, Günter (2010). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 7: Fl–Fu [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 7: Fl–Fu] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2380-1.