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Werner Freiherr von Fritsch | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Von Fritsch in 1932 | |
| Chief of the German Army High Command | |
| In office 1 June 1935 – 4 February 1938 | |
| Chancellor | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Walther von Brauchitsch |
| 5th Chief of the German Army Command | |
| In office 1 February 1934 – 1 June 1935 | |
| President | Paul von Hindenburg Adolf Hitler |
| Chancellor | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord |
| Succeeded by | Himself as Commander-in-Chief of the German Army |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Ludwig Werner von Fritsch 4 August 1880 Benrath, Landkreis Düsseldorf, Rhine Province, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 22 September 1939 (aged 59) Warsaw, Poland |
| Resting place | Invalidenfriedhof, Berlin |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany |
| Branch/service |  German Army |
| Years of service | 1898–1939 |
| Rank | Generaloberst |
| Commands | 1st Cavalry Division 3rd Infantry Division Supreme Commander of the Army |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Order of the Red Eagle Iron Cross Golden Party Badge |
Thomas Ludwig Werner Freiherr[1] von Fritsch (4 August 1880 – 22 September 1939) was a member of the German High Command. He was Commander-in-Chief of the German Army from February 1934 until February 1938, when he was forced to resign after he was falsely accused of being homosexual. His ousting was a major step in Adolf Hitler's establishment of tighter control over the armed forces. Just over a year later, before the outbreak of World War II, Fritsch was recalled as Colonel-in-chief of the 12th Artillery Regiment. He died in battle in Poland early in the war, the second German general to perish in that conflict after Wilhelm Fritz von Roettig.