German Soldiers

Colonel Gerhard Friedrich! October 17, 1909, Breslau - January 1945
He served in the RW from 1929, initially in the 7th Infantry Regiment, became a lieutenant here in 1934 and joined the 1st Battalion/IR 54 in October 1934.
When the 13th Rifle Regiment was formed, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion in November 1938, with which he served in Poland, the West and the Balkans, becoming a first lieutenant and a captain in 1938.
Subordinate to the 5th Rifle Brigade within the 5th Panzer Division, he fought in Russia at the start of "Barbarossa". On July 15, 1942, the SR 13 was renamed the 13th Panzer Grenadier Regiment.
At the end of November 1942 in the Rzhev combat area, he commanded the 1st Battalion near Ssychevka, where the troops held their positions near Chlepen for seven days, thereby stabilizing the situation at the time.
Major from March 1, 1943, he led the I./PGR 13 in the battles near Orel and in April 1944 in the battles that led to the relief of Kovel.
Lieutenant Colonel from June 1944 and commander of PGR 13 from August 1944, he led his troops in the battles in Courland.
As part of "Operation Doppelkopf," PGR 13 broke through an anti-tank front near Akmene/LTU, and two days later captured 22 artillery pieces near Martinynkiai. During the retreat battles of the 5th PD in October 1944, which followed “Doppelkopf”, the grenadiers of the PGR 13 under OTL F. fought in bitter close combat in order to keep the 5th PD’s route of retreat open.
He was promoted to colonel on December 1st, 1944 and has been missing in East Prussia since January 1945.
Some sources give a date of death as May 8th, 1945 near Trautenau/Heilsberg.
Colonel Friedrich was declared dead by court order of the AG Siegen on December 3rd, 2001.
EKII December 1st, 1939, EKI September 6th, 1940, Infantry Assault Badge 40, Eastern Medal, DKiG January 10th, 1944, RK April 6th, 1943, EL November 3rd, 1944
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