Johannes Friessner

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Johannes Friessner (March 22, 1892-June 26, 1971) was a German general during World War II.

Born in Chemnitz, Saxony, Friessner enlisted in the German army in 1911 and, after seeing extensive duty during World War I, served in the Reichswehr following the war.

After his promotion to Generalmajor on August 1, 1940, Friessner was assigned to the Eastern Front where, on May 1, 1942, he would be placed in command of the 102nd Infantry Division. Shortly after his promotion to Generalleutnant on October 1, 1942, Friessner served as commander of the XXIII Corps from January 19-December 11, 1943 (during which time he was promoted General der Infanterie on April 1).

In February 1944, Friessner was transferred to the Northern Front and assigned command to Friessner Group (later renamed Army Detachment Narva on February 23). Winning promotion to Generaloberst on July 1, Friessner held briefly command of Army Group North until July 25 before being sent to the southern front to command South Ukraine Army Group (later renamed the Army Group Southeast). Unable to halt the four month Soviet offensive by Marshal Rodion Malinovsky's Second Ukrainian Front, Friessner was relieved of his command on December 22. Holding no further command for remainder of the war, Friessner would live in retirement until his death Bayerisch Gmain on June 26, 1971.