Friedrich Fromm

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Friedrich Fromm

Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm
Born 8 October 1888
Berlin, Germany
Died 12 March 1945 (aged 56)
Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
Allegiance German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Army
Rank Generaloberst
Commands held Chef der Heeresausrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Friedrich Fromm (8 October 1888 – 12 March 1945) was a German army officer. A recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, he was executed for failing to act against the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler.

Early life

Fromm was born in Charlottenburg. He served as a lieutenant during World War I.

The 20 July plot

Main article: 20 July plot

In World War II, Fromm was Commander in Chief of the Reserve Army (Ersatzheer), in charge of training and personnel replacement for the German Army, a position he occupied for most of the war. Though he was aware that some of his subordinates—most notably Claus von Stauffenberg, his Chief of Staff—were planning an assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler, he remained quiet and agreed to have a part in it if he became a top official of the new government after the mutiny. When the attempt to proceed with the mutiny on 15 July failed, Fromm refused to have any further part in their mutiny.

However, on 20 July the news broke out that Hitler had been the victim of an explosion in a Nazi base in Poland near Russia; the Wolf's Lair. Fromm quickly realized that it was Stauffenberg and the plotters that did it, and when he tried to arrest them, they overthrew him and locked him in a jail cell in the headquarters.

When the mutiny failed, Fromm was found by Nazis and freed. He immediately had the conspirators executed[1] (against Hitler's orders to take the conspirators alive) to cover up potential allegations that he himself was involved. However, these actions did not save him.

Trial and execution

After executing the top plotters, Fromm returned to his office for the night. There he was met by various Nazi officers, Dr. Goebbels among them. Their talk ended with Goebbels saying "You've been in a damned hurry to get your witnesses below ground."

The next morning on 22 July 1944, Fromm was arrested by Nazi officials and locked in jail to await trial. Fromm was discharged from the German Army on 14 September 1944. The civilian Fromm was sentenced to death and considered unworthy for military duty by the Volksgerichtshof on 7 March 1945. Since the court failed to prove a direct association with the 20 July plotters, he had been charged and convicted for cowardice before the enemy. The loss of his worthiness for military service led to a permanent loss of all honors, ranks and orders.[2] On 12 March 1945, Fromm was executed at the Brandenburg-Görden Prison by firing squad as part of the post-conspiracy purge. His last words before the firing squad were reported to be "I die, because it was ordered. I had always wanted only the best for Germany."[3]

Awards

Film portrayals

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Clark, Alan (1965). Barbarossa. Cassell & Co. p. 478. ISBN 0304358649. 
  2. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 131.
  3. ↑ Mueller, Gene: Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm. In: Gerd R. Ueberschär (ed.): Hitlers militärische Elite. Vol. 1, Primus Verlag, Darmstadt 1998, ISBN 3-89678-083-2, p. 76.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 188.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [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. 
  • Kroener, Bernhard R. (2005). "Der starke Mann im Heimatkriegsgebiet". Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm. Eine Biographie. Paderborn: Schoeningh, Oler family (Alberta, Canada)
  • 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. 

External links

German Colonel Generals and General Admirals of the Third Reich
Colonel General
(Generaloberst)
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