Fritz Pliska

Fritz Pliska
File:Fritz Pliska.jpg
Born	20 December 1915 Gelsenkirchen
Died	Dülken
Military career
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Leutnant
Unit	Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 19
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battle of Kursk Battle of Kiev (1943) Kamenets-Podolsky pocket Battle of Radzymin (1944)
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Association football career Position(s) Defender Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1945–1946 FC Schalke 04 1948–1949 TSG Vohwinkel 80 1948–1949 Rheydter SV 1951–1953 Borussia Mönchengladbach Managerial career 1949–1951 Rheydter SV 1951–1953 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1954–1955 Waldhof Mannheim 1955–1956 VfR Frankenthal 1957–1960 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1960–1962 Fortuna Düsseldorf 1963–1965 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1965–1967 Rot-Weiss Essen 1973–1974 Roda JC Kerkrade *Club domestic league appearances and goals

Fritz Pliska (20 December 1915 – 28 August 1995) was a highly decorated Leutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Pliska was also is a former German footballer and coach in the German Bundesliga and in the Dutch Eerste Divisie.

Awards and decorations

• West Wall Medal (27 September 1939)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (27 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (25 June 1940)
• Panzer Badge in Bronze (24 September 1941)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Silver
• Eastern Front Medal (1 December 1942)
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (8 July 1941)
• German Cross in Gold on 22 February 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 3./Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 19