friedrich friedrich december german general serving world war second inspector general der born joined military service serving infantry final battles world war earned iron cross second class end hostilities joined war later accepted world war held senior staff positions including chief general staff awarded knight des september leadership defensive battles taken prisoner war post war trial initially received death sentence later years hard labor intervention caused release joined newly formed served senior positions including assignment shape nato paris appointed inspector general position held retirement died december biography born district father government employee der und attended gymnasium secondary school received volunteered military service assigned military career took path older brother later general der shortly end world war participated battles und positions northeast awarded 2nd class brother joined war accepted end serving ensign promoted second lieutenant april lieutenant february adjutant iii 3rd light infantry battalion 17th infantry regiment october served 12th machine gun company regiment transferred war academy fall promoted april treaty versailles imposed severe restrictions germany military strength largely versailles restrictions adolf_hitler rise power began renamed expanded time served military headquarters appointed company chief october promoted major august transferred general staff iii november position held outbreak world war fall officer general staff 60th infantry division participated invasion france relieved position transferred chief staff attained rank november june promoted time appointed officer general staff 18th army earned gold support heavy fighting northern sector eastern appointed chief general staff december promoted june months later received knight des appointed chief general staff end january promotion followed march capitulation german forces taken prisoner war sentenced years imprisonment war crime charges destruction cities art june according court permitted destruction cities troops destruction historical art memorials released captivity october helped secure release german prisoners war decade end war joined holding rank initial task leadership appointed commanding officer april posted shape nato paris deputy chief fundamental planning office succeeded second der april command compulsory military service extended months command political scandal led resignation widely read german periodical published article prepared defense nato maneuver called fall exercise nato forces demonstrate resist possible attack soviet_union forces maneuvers demonstrated repel attack article exposed sorry state retired star general december retirement wife children lived died december awards 2nd class 2nd class 1st class gold knight september chief general staff grand officer star medal long service award 4th 1st class commander france legion merit usa
Friedrich Foertsch