Kurt Fricke
Encyclopedia
Kurt Fricke was a Admiral
with the Kriegsmarine
during World War II
and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
as a cadet on 1 April 1910. He served on SMS Hertha
during his cadetship and graduated from Marineschule Mürwik. After graduating he was posted to the battlecruiser SMS Moltke. On 27 September 1913 Fricke was promoted to lieutenant. During World War One, Fricke served at the battle of Dogger Bank
. Fricke was promoted to captain lieutenant
in 1916 and transferred to destroyers. He served on G103 and G101. On 7 March 1918 he became an aide-de-camp to the commander of the destroyers, in which position he ended the war.
After the war he served in the administration of the German navy as adjudant to the commander in chief of the navy. From 1922 to 1924 he served on the I Flotille, in which he commanded destroyer T 139 and T 148. In September 1924 Fricke became a company officer in a coastal defence unit. Fricke was promoted to corvettecaptain in 1928. He served three years as a marine adjudant to the Reichswehrminister.
In 1929 Fricke was made commander of half a squadron of destroyers. In 1931 he became commander of the I destroyer squadron. In 1933 he became destroyer leader. On 1 April 1934 Fricke was promoted to frigate captain
. Fricke then was posted as chief of staff to the inspectorate of destroyer and minewarfare in the rank of Captain at Sea
(1935). From October 1936 to September 1937 he served at the Wehrmacht-Akademie. After this academic posting, Fricke served on the Oberkommando der Marine
as Chief of the Operations department of the Seekriegsleitung
. On 30 April 1939 Fricke became liaison officer to the Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe
.
After the start of the Second World War, fricke was promoted to rear admiral
on 1 November 1939 and vice-admiral on 1 June 1941. From 13 June 1941 to 20 February 1943 Fricke was Chief of Staff of the Seekriegsleitung. Promoted to admiral on 1 April 1942, Fricke was named commander of the Marinegruppenkommandos Süd (21 March 1943 – 11 December 1944). In Decembre 1944 Fricke was placed in the Führerreserve
. Fricke was killed on 2 May 1945 during the Battle of Berlin
.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
with the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
.
Biography
Fricke entered the Kaiserliche MarineKaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
as a cadet on 1 April 1910. He served on SMS Hertha
SMS Hertha
Seiner Majestät Schiff Hertha was a protected cruiser of the Victoria Louise class, built for the Kaiserliche Marine before the turn of the 20th Century. Hertha was the first ship of the class laid down, in October 1895, and also the first completed, in July 1898...
during his cadetship and graduated from Marineschule Mürwik. After graduating he was posted to the battlecruiser SMS Moltke. On 27 September 1913 Fricke was promoted to lieutenant. During World War One, Fricke served at the battle of Dogger Bank
Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)
The Battle of Dogger Bank was a naval battle fought near the Dogger Bank in the North Sea on 24 January 1915, during the First World War, between squadrons of the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet....
. Fricke was promoted to captain lieutenant
Captain Lieutenant
Captain lieutenant or captain-lieutenant is a military rank, used in a number of different navies worldwide.It is generally equivalent to the Commonwealth or US rank of lieutenant, and has the NATO rank code of OF-2, though this can vary....
in 1916 and transferred to destroyers. He served on G103 and G101. On 7 March 1918 he became an aide-de-camp to the commander of the destroyers, in which position he ended the war.
After the war he served in the administration of the German navy as adjudant to the commander in chief of the navy. From 1922 to 1924 he served on the I Flotille, in which he commanded destroyer T 139 and T 148. In September 1924 Fricke became a company officer in a coastal defence unit. Fricke was promoted to corvettecaptain in 1928. He served three years as a marine adjudant to the Reichswehrminister.
In 1929 Fricke was made commander of half a squadron of destroyers. In 1931 he became commander of the I destroyer squadron. In 1933 he became destroyer leader. On 1 April 1934 Fricke was promoted to frigate captain
Frigate Captain
Frigate captain is a naval rank in the naval forces of several countries.It is, usually, equivalent to the Commonwealth/US Navy rank of commander.Countries using this rank include Argentina and Spain , France , Belgium , Italy ,...
. Fricke then was posted as chief of staff to the inspectorate of destroyer and minewarfare in the rank of Captain at Sea
Captain at Sea
Captain at Sea, is a naval rank corresponding to command of a ship-of-the-line or capital ship....
(1935). From October 1936 to September 1937 he served at the Wehrmacht-Akademie. After this academic posting, Fricke served on the Oberkommando der Marine
Oberkommando der Marine
The Oberkommando der Marine was Nazi Germany's Naval High Command and the highest administrative and command authority of the Kriegsmarine. It was officially formed from the Marineleitung of the Reichswehr on 11 January 1936. In 1937 it was combined with the newly formed Seekriegsleitung...
as Chief of the Operations department of the Seekriegsleitung
Seekriegsleitung
The Seekriegsleitung or SKL was the high command of the Kaiserliche Marine and the Kriegsmarine of Germany during the World Wars.It led planning and execution of naval combat and directed the distribution of naval forces...
. On 30 April 1939 Fricke became liaison officer to the Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
.
After the start of the Second World War, fricke was promoted to rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
on 1 November 1939 and vice-admiral on 1 June 1941. From 13 June 1941 to 20 February 1943 Fricke was Chief of Staff of the Seekriegsleitung. Promoted to admiral on 1 April 1942, Fricke was named commander of the Marinegruppenkommandos Süd (21 March 1943 – 11 December 1944). In Decembre 1944 Fricke was placed in the Führerreserve
Führerreserve
The Führerreserve was a section set up in 1939 in many army units, in which high officers waited for a new assignment. Also, troublesome officers were sometimes shifted into the Führerreserve, since the High Command believed that they would be less dangerous there...
. Fricke was killed on 2 May 1945 during the Battle of Berlin
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
.
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1914)- 2nd Class (4 January 1915)
- 1st Class (28 June 1916)
- Großherzoglich Oldenburgisches Friedrich August-Kreuz
- 2nd Class (25 May 1916)
- 1st Class (3 April 1918)
- Hanseatic CrossHanseatic CrossThe Hanseatic Cross was a decoration of the three Hanseatic Cities of Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck, who were member states of the German Empire during World War I...
, Hamburg (14 June 1916) - Knight's Cross of the House Order of HohenzollernHouse Order of HohenzollernThe House Order of Hohenzollern was an order of chivalry of the House of Hohenzollern. It was both a military and a civil award...
with Swords (5 March 1918) - Ritterkreuz I. Klasse des Königlichen Schwedischen Schwerter-Ordens (12 July 1930)
- Honour Cross for CombatantsHonour Cross for CombatantsThe Honour Cross for Combatants was one of three versions of the Cross of Honor to be awarded.- Recipients :* Walther von Brauchitsch* Wilhelm Keitel* Günther von Kluge* Erwin Rommel* Albert Kesselring* Erwin von Witzleben* Erich von Manstein...
1914/1918 (1934) - Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 01.10.1938 (22 May 1939)
- Wehrmacht-DienstauszeichnungWehrmacht Long Service AwardThe Wehrmacht Long Service Award was a military service decoration of Nazi Germany issued for satisfactory completion of a given years of military service...
1st through 4th Class (2 October 1936) - Königlicher Spanische Marineverdienstkreuz III. Klasse in Weiss (21 August 1939)
- Clasp to the Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class (1 October 1939)
- 1st Class (27 November 1939)
- Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes (26 October 1939)
- Königlicher Jugoslawischer Kronen-Orden mit Stern II. Klasse (9 November 1939)
- Königlicher Bulgarischre Militär-Verdienstorden mit der Kriegsdekoration I. Klasse (1942)
- Finnischer Freiheitskreuz I. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (25 March 1942)
- Order of Michael the BraveOrder of Michael the BraveThe Order of Michael the Brave is Romania's highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of World War I, and was again awarded in World War II...
3rd Class (1 September 1942) - Kroatisches Großkreuz des Ordens der Krone des Königs Zvonimir mit Schwertern (26 September 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(1 October 1942) - Großkreuz I. Klasse des Kgl. Rumänischen Sterns mit Schwertern und Band der militärischen Tugend (7 October 1942)