Walter Fries

Walter Fries
Born	22 April 1894 Gusternheim/Dillkreis
Died	6 August 1982 (aged 88) Weilburg an der Lahn
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1912–45
Rank	General der Panzertruppe
Commands held	29th Panzergrenadier Division XXXXVI. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Annexation of the Sudetenland Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Battle of Moscow Italian Campaign Allied invasion of Italy Operation Shingle Vistula–Oder Offensive
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 Sword, which is 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 headed by General der Artillerie Maximilian Fretter-Pico, General der Nachrichtentruppe Albert Praun, Generalleutnant Friedrich-Georg Eberhardt, Generalrichter Dr. jur. Karl Schmauser and Generalrichter Dr. jur. Adolf Block ruled not guilty. The prosecution was represented by General der Infanterie Kurt von Tippelskirch, and the defense was led by General der Panzertruppe Otto von Knobelsdorff.

The trial before the Reichskriegsgericht (Supreme Military Court) in Berlin commenced on March 24, 1945. Fries was acquitted due to the utter exhaustion of the troops he had commanded. He was freed and placed on leave until the end of the war six weeks later, but spent two years thereafter as an Allied prisoner of war.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class^[1]
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (24 September 1939)^[1][2]
  • 1st Class (9 October 1939)^[1][2]
• Eastern Front Medal (18 July 1942)^[1]
• Infantry Assault Badge
• German Cross in Gold on 9 October 1942 as Oberst in Infanterie-Regiment 87 (mot.)^[3]
• 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.)^[4][5][6]
  • 378th Oak Leaves on 29 January 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 29. Panzergrenadier-Division^[4][7][8]
  • 87th Swords on 11 August 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 29. Panzergrenadier-Division^[4][9][10]
• 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.[11]	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.[12]	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

1. Wegmann 2010, p. 245.
2. Thomas 1997, p. 183.
3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 124.
4. Scherzer 2007, p. 321.
5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 187.
6. Von Seemen 1976, p. 133.
7. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 77.
8. Von Seemen 1976, p. 41.
9. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 44.
10. Von Seemen 1976, p. 17.
11. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 141.
12. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 181.

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 [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
• 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.
• Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 : The Knight's Cross Bearers of All the Armed Services, Diamonds, Swords and Oak Leaves Bearers in the Order of Presentation: Appendix with Further Information and Presentation Requirements] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.
• 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.

External links

• Walter Fries @ Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Walter Fries @ World War 2 Awards.com