Maximilian Fretter-Pico

February 6, 1892 (age 92)

Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe Government Region, Germany

The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Fretter-Pico entered service on 20 September 1910 with the Imperial German Army"s artillery units. He was a junior officer at the start of World War I. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to the rank of captain. During the inter-war years, he remained in the German military, reaching the rank of major by the time the Nazi Party came to power. In 1938, as a colonel, he was sent to Turkey as a military attaché. Although he was recalled to Germany for the outbreak of World World War II in Europe, he missed the campaigns in Poland and France. In March 1941, he was promoted to the rank of major general. At the start of Operation Barbarossa, Fretter-Pico was given command of the 97th Jäger Division in Army Group South. On 27 December 1941, he was given command of XXX Corps, which participated in the Battle of Sevastopol in southern Ukraine. Fretter-Pico was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on 15 January 1942, and a full general by June 1942. He remained the commanding officer of XXX Corps until mid-1944, and then commanded the 6th Army for the remainder of the year. On 30 March 1945, he was given command of IX Corps, an under-strength reserve unit He was captured by American forces on 22 April 1945 and remained a prisoner until 1947. Fretter-Pico died at Bad Wiessee in Bavaria, Germany. Wehrmachtbericht reference Bibliography.

Maximilian Fretter-Pico

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Background

Maximilian Fretter-Pico was born in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Career

The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Fretter-Pico entered service on 20 September 1910 with the Imperial German Army"s artillery units. He was a junior officer at the start of World War I. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to the rank of captain.

During the inter-war years, he remained in the German military, reaching the rank of major by the time the Nazi Party came to power.

In 1938, as a colonel, he was sent to Turkey as a military attaché. Although he was recalled to Germany for the outbreak of World World War II in Europe, he missed the campaigns in Poland and France.

In March 1941, he was promoted to the rank of major general. At the start of Operation Barbarossa, Fretter-Pico was given command of the 97th Jäger Division in Army Group South.

On 27 December 1941, he was given command of XXX Corps, which participated in the Battle of Sevastopol in southern Ukraine.

Fretter-Pico was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on 15 January 1942, and a full general by June 1942. He remained the commanding officer of XXX Corps until mid-1944, and then commanded the 6th Army for the remainder of the year. On 30 March 1945, he was given command of IX Corps, an under-strength reserve unit

He was captured by American forces on 22 April 1945 and remained a prisoner until 1947.

Fretter-Pico died at Bad Wiessee in Bavaria, Germany. Wehrmachtbericht reference Bibliography.

Achievements

Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (12 October 1914) 1st Class (23 December 1916) Knight"s Cross 2nd Class of the Order of the Zähringer Lion with Swords (10 October 1914) Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg (20 January 1918) Wound Badge in Black (June 1918) Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (31 October 1939) 1st Class (16 June 1940) West Wall Medal (22 November 1940) German Cross in Gold on 19 September 1942 as General der Artillerie and commanding general of the XXX. Armeekorps Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 26 December 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of the 97. Infanterie-Division 368th Oak leaves on 16 January 1944 as General der Artillerie and commanding general of the XXX. Armeekorps Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 30 October 1944.

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