Friedrich Hochbaum

Friedrich Hochbaum
Born	7 August 1894 Magdeburg, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	28 January 1955 (aged 60) Woikowo Prisoner-of-War Camp 324 near Ivanovo, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1913–45
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands held	34. Infanterie-Division XVIII. Gebirgs-Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battle of Kursk Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive Cherkassy Pocket Uman–Botoşani Offensive East Pomeranian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Friedrich Hochbaum (7 August 1894 – 28 January 1955) was a highly decorated General der Infanterie 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. Friedrich Hochbaum was captured by Soviet troops in May 1945 and died in captivity on 28 January 1955.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (10 October 1914)^[1]
  • 1st Class (5 August 1916)^[1]
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (3 July 1941)^[1]
  • 1st Class (21 August 1941)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge
• German Cross in Gold on 25 April 1942 as Oberst in Infanterie-Regiment 253^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 22 August 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of 34. Infanterie-Division^[3]
  • 486th Oak Leaves on 4 June 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 34. Infanterie-Division^[4]
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (14 February 1944 and 12 March 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
14 February 1944	Im Raum von Schaschkoff hat sich die moselländische 34. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Hochbaum besonders ausgezeichnet.[5]	In the area of Schaschkoff has the Moselle 34th Infantry Division under the leadership of Lieutenant-General Hochbaum particularly distinguished itself.
12 March 1944	Unter dem Befehl des Generals der Artillerie Hell haben sich in den erbitterten Abwehrkämpfen die moselländische 34. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Hochbaum, die württembergisch-badische 198. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants von Horn und die württembergisch-badische 4. Gebirgs-Division unter Führung des Generalmajors Braun besonders bewährt.[6]	Under the command of General of Artillery Hell, in the fierce defensive battles, the Moselle 34th Infantry Division under the leadership of Lieutenant-General Hochbaum, the Württemberg-Baden 198th Infantry Division under the leadership of Lieutenant-General von Horn and the Württemberg-Baden 4th Mountain Division under the leadership of Major General Braun, have particularly excelled.

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1997, p. 287.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 188.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 189.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 71.
5. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 34.
6. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 55.

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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• 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.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuzträger 1939-45
• World War 2 Awards.com