Herbert Fries

Herbert Fries

Herbert Fries (left) in 1944
Born 1 March 1925
Waldmühlen
Died 6 January 2014 (aged 88)
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1943–45
Rank Oberfähnrich
Unit Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Herbert Fries (1 March 1925 – 6 January 2014) was a highly decorated Oberfähnrich in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Herbert Fries was captured by American troops in May 1945 and held until July 1947. He died in January 2014, aged 88.[1]

Awards and decorations

Wehrmachtbericht reference

The daily Wehrmachtbericht (Wehrmacht propaganda report) noted the following:

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
27 May 1944 Als Einzelkämpfer haben sich der Jäger Fries, Richtschütze in einer Fallschirm-Panzerjägerkompanie, durch Abschuß von 17 feindlichen Panzern innerhalb von zwei Tagen, der Obergefreite Schrems in der Sturmkompanie eines Jägerregiments, durch Vernichtung von drei Panzern im Nahkampf hervorgetan.[4] As individual fighters distinguished themselves, the rifleman Fries, gunner in a parachute armored infantry company, by shooting 17 enemy tanks within two days, Lance Corporal Schrems in the assault company of a hunter regiment, by the destruction of three tanks in close combat.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ http://trauer.rhein-zeitung.de/Traueranzeige/Herbert-Fries
  2. 1 2 Thomas & Wegmann 1986, p. 61.
  3. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 157.
  4. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 111.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. 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. 
  • Huß, Jürgen (2009). Ritterkreuzträger im Mannschaftsstand 1941 - 1945. Zweibrücken: VDM Nickel. ISBN 978-3-86619-042-9. 
  • 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. 
  • Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1986). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil II: Fallschirmjäger [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part II: Paratroopers] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1461-8. 
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. 

External links

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