Leutnant Herbert Fries (deceased) *Signature Value : £50
| Knights Cross winning paratrooper. Born 1st March 1925, he was part of 2./Fallschirm-Panzer-Jagd-Abteilung 1, and was awarded the Knights Cross on 5th September 1944. In June 1943 Herbert Fries volunteered for the Paratroopers. He trained at Pakausbildung andhad further training at Angouleme and Avignon (France) In the middle of December 1943 to Janaury 1944 he served with the 2nd company of the parachute tank hunter unit 1 of, the 1st paratroop division, part of the LXXVI army corps of the 10th army and part of army group C at the main combat line in Francavilla with Pescara (Italy, Adriaküste) At the end of January 1944 Fries went with the 2nd company to Cassinoth Cassino. There Herbert Fries manned an entrenched 'Panther' Dome, equipped with a 7,5-cm-KwK 42/L70 and machine gun. While commanding an emplaced Panther tank turret east of Piedimonte, the young Gefreiter Herbert Fries, and his crew Meier the gun loader, Schirra the radio operator and Emmrich from 2./FschPzJägAbt 1, slowed down the Allies who were trying to outflank what was left of 1FJD. In two days he and his crew knocked out 17 enemy tanks. For this defence Herbert Fries received both iron crosses. He died on 6th January 2014. |