Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer 6./Grenadier-Regiment 869 / 356. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

August 27th, 1944

The following press article describes why Frese was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“How Leutnant Frese received the Knight’s Cross:

A street triangle located southeast of a commanding hill was the lynchpin of the frontline. The positions of the Division depended on it being under friendly control, holding it meant the entire frontline would also be held. The mission for the Bataillon was clear, the Kompanien likewise knew of its importance.

During the night they marched towards it, reached it in the morning and could only think of the most minimal digging in preparations before Tommy also arrived. They had also marched during the night and reached the area in the morning. The place was as important for their attack as it was for our defense. Here as well the enemy had men and materiel in abundance. Massive artillery and mortar fire rained down, armoured infantry carriers rattled up, infantry loaded in trucks came forward. An attack with concentrated force rolled against our position. Our Grenadiers became locked in combat with the enemy’s numerical and materiel superiority, and after bitter close combat Tommy was slowed down and eventually thrown back. However a second thrust was not long in coming. It came against the wings of the Bataillon, which they wanted to outflank. Here the fighting became brutal, and again the enemy pulled back with heavy losses. However the control of the street triangle was important. Once again they massed their overwhelming forces, smashed the foremost heavy MG squad with a furious frontal attack and penetrated into the street triangle along both sides of the road.

And now came the great hour for Leutnant Frese and his 6. Kompanie!

He had already held off all attacks of the enemy in his sector thus far, bringing them heavy losses in the process. Now he recognized the threat that this new enemy thrust posed for his Bataillon and the integrity of the entire defensive line. He made the independent decision to orient the front of his Kompanie to the west, and in doing so he prevented the enemy’s intended thrust into his right flank. When the Tommies then attacked there so as to expand their initial success, he succeeded in repelling all hostile assaults in close combat while bravely intervening in the combat. He even managed to restore contact with the left neighbour. He then rallied the rest of his Kompanie, thrusted forwards into the enemy-held street triangle and captured it along with the high ground lying beyond it in a bold attack. But the fight wasn’t over yet. The enemy knew of his superiority, the might of his materiel. Supported by heavy artillery and mortar fire, they attacked again and again. It always came down to close combat, and always the enemy was forced to fall back by the Grenadiers, who put up a truly magnificent performance on this day. The heavy fighting lasted more than an entire day. Finally, at midnight, the order to retreat arrived. This was carried out without difficulties, for by now Tommy had had enough. The enemy sustained a large number of dead and wounded, both armoured gun carriers and trucks lay shot up on the battlefield. Their attacks, launched with great power, did not yield victory. The prudence and bravery of a German officer and his men had restored the frontline of an entire Bataillon and furthermore prevented an enemy breakthrough at a critical point of the Division’s sector.”