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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Fries, Walter |
| Date of birth: | April 22nd, 1894 (Güsternhain/Hesse-Nassau, Germeny)
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| Date of death: |
August 6th, 1982 (Weilburg an der Lahn/Hesse, Germany)
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| Nationality: |
German |
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BIOGRAPHY:
Walter Fries served in the German Army during World War I, being
commissioned in 1915, and saw post-war service in the Police. In October
1936, Fries rejoined the army and was given command of
II./Infanterie-Regiment 15, with the rank of Major. In 1938, he was promoted
to Oberstleutnant. After service in the Polish and French Campaigns, summer
1940 found Fries as the commander of Infanterie-Regiment 87 (Motorized). It
was in this capacity that, on 14 December 1941, he was decorated with the
Knight’s Cross for his part in the success of the regiment whilst part of
Heeresgruppe Nord during the opening phases of Operation Barbarossa. Fries
then served for a short period as the Head of Instruction at Dresden
Infantry School before being appointed, in March 1943, to command the
recently formed 29. Panzergrenadier-Division. The unit fought in Sicily and
during the Italian Campaign at Salerno and Anzio. In January 1944, Fries was
decorated with the Oakleaves for his successful command of the division
during the Italian Campaign. The Swords followed in August of the same year.
In December 1944, Fries was promoted to the rank of General der Panzertruppe
and ended the war as Commanding General of XXXVI. Panzer-Korps. Fries, an
able and respected commander, survived the war and died in Weilburg in
August 1982 at the age of 88.
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DEUTSCHES KREUZ IN GOLD
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Rank:
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Oberst (Colonel)
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Unit:
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Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 87 (motorisiert) / 36.Infanterie-Division
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Awarded on:
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October 9th, 1942
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Details:
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Award 202/3.
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RITTERKREUZ DES EISERNEN KREUZES
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Rank:
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Oberst (Colonel)
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Unit:
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Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 87 (motorisiert) / 36.Infanterie-Division / XXXXI.Armee-Korps / 9.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte
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Awarded on:
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December 14th, 1941
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Details:
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721st Award.
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RITTERKREUZ MIT EICHENLAUB
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Rank:
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Generalleutnant (Major-general)
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Unit:
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Kommandeur 29.Panzergrenadier-Division / XIV.Armee-Korps / 10.Armee / Heeresgruppe C
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Awarded on:
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January 29th, 1944
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Details:
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378th Award.
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Provide alterations or additional information |
| Picture source: |
- Willi Schumacher Collection |
| Information source(s): |
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
- Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
- Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
- Kursietis, Andris J., The Wehrmacht at War 1939-1945, Aspekt, The Netherlands, 1999
- Götte, F. & Peiler, H., Die 29.Falke-Division – 1936-1945 29.I.D.-29.I.D. (mot)-29.Pz.Gren.Div., Nebel Verlag GmbH, Eggolsheim, Deutschland, 2003
- Berger, F., Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern – Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges, Selbstverlag Florian Berger, Wien, Österreich, 2002/03
- Axis Biographical Research
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