Fritz Klasing

Fritz Klasing
Born	(1891-12-23)23 December 1891 Bielefeld
Died	Münster
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1913–20, 1935–45
Rank	Oberst of the Reserves
Unit	102. Infanterie-Division
Commands held	58. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Fritz Klasing (23 December 1891 – 29 April 1966) was a highly decorated Oberst of the Reserves in the Wehrmacht during World War II who briefly led the 58th Infantry Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (2 October 1914)
  • 1st Class (28 November 1917)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 May 1942)
  • 1st Class (27 August 1942)
• German Cross in Gold on 1 November 1943 as Major in Divisions-Bataillon 134
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 12 August 1944 as Oberstleutnant of the Reserves and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 446
  • 745th Oak Leaves on 19 February 1945 as Oberst of the Reserves and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 232
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 24 January 1944

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
24 January 1944	In den schweren Abwehrkämpfen der letzten Tage haben sich unter Führung des Oberstleutnants Klasing das Grenadierregiment 446 mit dem unterstellten Sicherungsbataillonen 738 und 793 und das II. Bataillon des Grenadierregiments 464 unter Führung des Hauptmanns Emmerling besonders bewährt.	In the heavy defensive battles of the last days, have the under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Klasing Grenadier Regiment 446 with the subordinated security battalions 738 and 793 and the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment 464 under the leadership of Captain Emmerling, particularly proven themselves.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Curt Siewert	Commander of 58. Infanterie-Division 13 April 1945 – May 1945	Succeeded by disbanded