Friedrich Franek

'''Dr. rer. pol. Friedrich "Fritz" Franek''' (16 July 1891 – 8 April 1976) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II.

Career
He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was one of only two officers in the German Wehrmacht who held the Military Order of Maria Theresa, the highest Austro-Hungarian decoration for bravery as well as the Knight's Cross.

In the summer of 1944 Franek was commanding the German 73rd Infantry Division as the Red Army was advancing through Poland. At the end of July, during the Lublin–Brest Offensive, he joined battle at Garwolin with the Soviet 2nd Guards Tank Army under the command of Alexei Radzievsky, when the German forces were routed and Franek himself was captured. He was held prisoner until 1948.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross
 * 2nd Class
 * Military Merit Cross III. Class
 * Order of the Iron Crown III. Class
 * Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa (10 June 1921)
 * Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Black
 * Eastern Front Medal
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 November 1941 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 405
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 8 February 1944