Years of service 1911–201934–45 Service/branch German Army | Name Fritz Polack | |
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Battles/wars World War IWorld War IIInvasion of PolandBattle of the CaucasusOperation HuskyGothic Line OffensiveSpring 1945 offensive in ItalyBattle of the Argenta Gap Battles and wars | ||
Commands held 29th Infantry Division | ||
Fritz Polack (22 October 1892 – 6 April 1956) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
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Biography
He served in the Saxon Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 10 from 1911, promoted to lieutenant in 1912 and to first lieutenant in 1916. He was discharged in 1920 and studied political economy at Erfurt University, completing a doctorate (Dr. rer. pol.). He re-joined the army as captain in 1934, serving in Artillerie-Regiment 29, promoted to major in 1937. In 1938 he became commander of the third division of Artillerie-Regiment 29 in Kassel, participating in the invasion of Poland in the summer of 1939. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1940, serving as commander of Artillerie-Lehr-Regiment 2 . Promoted to colonel in 1942, he commanded Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 140, active in the southern part of the eastern front. He retired from command in December 1942 but was reactivated in March 1943 as commander of Artillerie-Regiment (motorisiert) 29 as part of the "Italy Group". For his service in Sicily he was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in 1943. He was promoted to major general in 1944, commanding 29. Panzer-Grenadier-Division , and finally promoted to lieutenant general on 15 March 1945. He was nominated to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, the award was announced and confirmed by OB 10th Armee under the command of General der Panzertruppe Traugott Herr, who stated that he received approval to make the award after a telephone inquiry to HPA Traunstein. Polack received his Oak Leaves on 30 April 1945.