Fritz Freitag
| Fritz Freitag | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
28 April 1894 Allenstein, Germany |
| Died |
10 May 1945 (aged 51) Graz, Austria |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen SS |
| Years of service |
1914–19 1939–45 |
| Rank | Brigadeführer |
| Commands held |
2nd SS Polizei Regiment 2 SS Infantry Brigade 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Galicia (1st Ukrainian) |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross I class 1914 & 1939 Iron Cross II class 1914 & 1939 Wound Badge with Swords Eastern Front Medal |
Fritz Freitag (28 April 1894 in Allenstein - 10 May 1945 in Graz) was a Brigadeführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was the commander of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division Galicia and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He committed suicide at the end of the war in May 1945.
Early years
Fritz Freitag was born on 28 April 1894, the son of a rail road official. After passing his high school examinations he joined the 1st (East Prussian) Grenadier Regiment.[1]
World War I
During World War I, Freitag served on both the Eastern Front and the Western Front. In 1915, he was commissioned as a Leutnant and for the next three years served as a company commander, being wounded four times.[1]
Between the wars
In 1919, Freitag joined the Freikorps and in 1920, the Schutzpolizei.[1]
World War II
By the time of World War II, Freitag had been promoted to Oberstleutnant in the Polizei. During the Polish Campaign he was the Chief of Operations of the 3rd Police Regiment and the Chief of Staff to the senior police commander in the 14th Army.[1]
Waffen SS
In September 1940, Freitag joined the Waffen SS and was posted onto the staff of Heinrich Himmler. He was then posted to the 1 SS Infantry Brigade as the chief of staff and served on the Eastern Front on Anti partisan operations and assisting the Einsatzgruppen in rounding up the Jewish population in the occupied territories.[2]
Freitag was given his first Regimental command in December 1941, when he took over command of the 2nd SS Polizei Infantry Regiment still serving on the Eastern Front. He was promoted to Standartenführer for his performance in command of a kampfgruppe during the fighting in the Volchow pocket.[1]
In January 1943, he was given temporary command of the 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer being replaced when becoming ill.[1]
When he recovered he was given command of the 2 SS Infantry Brigade in April to August 1943. From 18 August 1943 till 20 October 1943 he was commander of 4th SS Polizei Division of Waffen SS and then he was given command of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Galicia (1st Ukrainian). He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in September 1944.[3]
Fritz Freitag committed suicide in an American POW camp on 10 May 1945 because of possible transfer to the Soviet Union.
References
Further reading
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45. Stackpole. ISBN 0-8117-3371-8.
- Berger, Florian (2004). Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold. ISBN 3-9501307-3-X.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). 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.
- Hannes Heer & Klaus Naumann (2000). War of Extermination: The German Military in World War II 1941-1944. Berghahn Books. ISBN 1-57181-232-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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. Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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