Date of birth:

March 1st, 1925 (Waldmühlen/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)

Date of death:

January 6th, 2014 (Rennerod-Emmerichenhain/Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

10.03.1943-11.06.1943: RAD
25.06.1943: Freiwilliger, Fallschirmtruppe
00.07.1943: Infanterie- and PaK-Ausbildung, Salzwedel
00.00.1943: Ausbildung, Angouleme then Avignon, France
15.12.1943-15.01.1944: Jäger, 2. Kompanie, Fallschirmpanzerjäger-Abteilung 1, 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division, LXXVI. Armee-Korps, 10. Armee, Heeresgruppe C - campaign in Italy, Francavilla, Pescara, Adriatic coastline
30.01.1944: Geschützführer, Richtschütze, 7,5cm "Panther"-Kuppel, 2. Kompanie, Fallschirmpanzerjäger-Abteilung 1 - Piedimonte, Cassino
21.05.1944: 7 tanks destroyed at 1700 meters
22.05.1944: 6 tanks destroyed at 600 meters - awarded the EKII and EKI and promoted to Gefreiter
24.05.1944: 7 tanks destroyed at 600 meters
27.05.1944: nominated in the Wehrmachtbericht
00.05.1944: Monte Cassino
05.09.1944: awarded the Ritterkreuz for 20 tank kills with his Geschütz nicknamed "Schlafmütze"
01.10.1944: promoted to Oberjäger
15.11.1944-01.05.1945: Führerschule "Brückner", Bosco-Chiesanuova
20.12.1944: promoted to Fähnrich
01.04.1945: promoted to Oberfähnrich
30.04.1945: promoted to Leutnant
08.05.1945: captured at Rovereto, Garda Lake - POW
25.07.1947: released

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Jäger (Aircraftman class 2)

Unit:

2. Kompanie, Fallschirmpanzerjäger-Abteilung 1, 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division

Awarded on:

May 22nd, 1944

for having destroyed 7 tanks the 21.05.1944 at Piedimonte, Monte Cassino

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Jäger (Aircraftman class 2)

Unit:

2. Kompanie, Fallschirmpanzerjäger-Abteilung 1, 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division

Awarded on:

May 22nd, 1944

for having destroyed 7 tanks the 21.05.1944 at Piedimonte, Monte Cassino

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Jäger (Aircraftman class 2)

Awarded on:

May 27th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gefreiter (Aircraftman class 2)

Unit:

Geschützführer, 2. Kompanie, Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1, 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

September 5th, 1944

Awarded for his achievements as the gunner of a “Pantherturm” along the Via Casilina road (specifically near Piedimonte). He destroyed 7 allied tanks on the 21.05.1944, 6 more on the 22.05.1944 and finally an additional 7 on the 24.05.1944. After this the crew of the Pantherturm (christened “Schlafmütze” or sleepyhead) blew up their gun and retreated north with the rest of the German defenders. Fries was recognized appropriately for his total of 20 tank kills during this short time period in a critical area of the battle.

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• Photo: Willi Schumacher Collection
  - Wilco Vermeer collection
  - https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - HUß, JÜRGEN & SONDERMANN, HEINZ-WERNER, Ritterkreuzträger im Mannschaftsstand 1941-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, 2009.
  - Die träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eiserne Kreuz 1939 - 1945
  - Fallschirmjägerkameradschaft Düsseldorf "Dr. Heinrich Neumann"