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Frießner, Johannes

Date of birth:
March 22nd, 1892 (Chemnitz/Saxonia, Germany)
Date of death:
June 26th, 1971 (Gmain/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
20th March 1911: Fahnenjunker;
5th August 1911: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier;
5th November 1911: Fahnrich;
9th August 1912: Leutnant;
22nd May 1916: Oberleutnant;
1st August 1922: Rittmeister;
1st October 1922: Hauptmann;
1st April 1933: Major;
1st October 1935: Oberstleutnant;
28th February 1938: Oberst;
14th August 1940: Generalmajor;
16th October 1942: Generalleutnant;
20th April 1943: General der Infanterie;
20th August 1944: Generaloberst.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Awarded on:
January 18th, 1935
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  1.Klasse, 25 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Awarded on:
November 9th, 1938
Verdienstkreuz des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Awarded on:
February 17th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Awarded on:
October 16th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Awarded on:
January 30th, 1941
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Awarded on:
January 30th, 1941
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1.Klasse mit Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Awarded on:
July 27th, 1942
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Awarded on:
August 21st, 1942
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1942
Ordinul Coroana Romaniei
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Unit:
Kommandierender General XXXXI.Panzer-Korps
Awarded on:
June 9th, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Unit:
Kommandierender General XXIII.Armeekorps
Awarded on:
July 23rd, 1943
Awarded for his actions during and immediately after Operation Citadel. On the 05.-06.07.1943 he managed to capture the key village of Protassowo despite strong enemy artillery fire. After this he and his Korps switched over to defense in a masterful fashion, and achieved a major defensive success on the 15.07.1943 when they smashed a major Soviet attack while inflicting losses of 61 tanks destroyed on the enemy.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Unit:
Führung Armeeabteilung "Narwa"
Awarded on:
April 9th, 1944
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
The following press article, dated 16.04.1944, describes why Frießner received the Oakleaves as follows…

“General der Infanterie Frießner was decisively involved in the successful withdrawal of German forces from the frontline salient that projected as far as Lake Ilmen, which was achieved despite extremely difficult circumstances. Also to his credit was the destruction of enemy bridgeheads over the Narwa river (reported in the Wehrmachtbericht of the 09.03.1944) with Estonian volunteer soldiers.”

445th Award.

Sources

Photo