Friedrich Fromm
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| Friedrich Fromm | |
|---|---|
| 8 October 1888 – 12 March 1945 (aged 56) | |
 Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm |
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| Place of birth | Berlin, Germany |
| Place of death | Brandenburg City, Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Rank | Generaloberst |
| Commands held | Chef der Heeresausrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Friedrich Fromm (October 8, 1888 – March 12, 1945) was a German army officer.
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[edit] Early life
Fromm was born in Charlottenburg. He served as a lieutenant during World War I.
[edit] 20 July Plot
In World War II Fromm was Commander in Chief of the Reserve Army (Ersatzheer), in charge of training and personnel replacement for the German Army, a position he occupied for most of the war. Though he was aware that some of his subordinates - most notably, Claus von Stauffenberg, his Chief of Staff - were planning an assassination attempt, he remained quiet. When the assassination attempt failed, Fromm reacted by ordering the execution of those conspirators he knew.
[edit] Death
Unfortunately for Fromm, this reaction helped to expose his own lack of action and alleged failure to report the plot. He was arrested by Joseph Goebbels when Fromm went to him to take credit for crushing the plot. Fromm was later convicted and sentenced to death by the German "People's Court" (Volksgerichtshof). Despite his limited knowledge of the conspiracy, his formal sentence condemned him for poor performance of his duties. He was executed in Brandenburg an der Havel. Hitler personally commuted his death sentence from hanging to "more honourable" firing squad.[citation needed]
[edit] Awards
- Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Classes
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (6 July 1940)
[edit] Film Portrayals
- By Axel Milberg in the 2004 film Stauffenberg (also known as Operation Valkyrie)
- By Tom Wilkinson in the 2008 film Valkyrie.
[edit] References
- Walther-Peer Fellgiebel (2000), Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5
- Bernhard R. Kroener, “Der starke Mann im Heimatkriegsgebiet”. Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm. Eine Biographie (Paderborn: Schoeningh, 2005)
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