Hans Fritsche (officer)

Hans Martin Fritsche
Birth name	Hans Martin Fritsche
Born	(1909-06-24)24 June 1909 Tillowitz, Silesia
Died	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)
• West Wall Medal (20 March 1940)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 July 1941)
  • 1st Class (8 February 1942)
• Infantry Assault Badge (18 November 1941)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (26 March 1942)
  • in Silver
• Eastern Front Medal (3 August 1942)
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Silver (21 January 1945)
• 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
  • 307th Oak Leaves on 2 October 1943 as Major and commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 528
• German Cross in Gold on 18 March 1845 as Oberst in Grenadier-Regiment 11

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht