Erich Brandenberger and 8. Panzer-Division in 1942 (Original Color Photograph)

Generalleutnant Erich Brandenberger (Kommandeur 8. Panzer-Division) inspecting his division in Russia, 1942. In that year, General Brandenberger, a seasoned Wehrmacht commander who had led the 8th Panzer Division since early 1941, continued to oversee the unit's demanding operations on the Eastern Front amid the brutal realities of the Soviet campaign. The division found itself engaged in grueling defensive and relief operations around the Leningrad sector and the Valdai Hills, particularly in the successful relief of the Kholm pocket earlier in the year, where it helped break through Soviet lines to rescue encircled German forces. Later that autumn and winter, as part of efforts to relieve the besieged garrison at Velikiye Luki, Brandenberger's men endured fierce combat and heavy casualties—suffering over 1,400 losses including dozens of officers in just weeks—against determined Red Army resistance in harsh, boggy terrain that hampered mobility and logistics. Brandenberger's leadership, marked by tactical flexibility and resilience, kept the division operational despite mounting attrition, fuel shortages, and the onset of another brutal Russian winter; he would depart command in early 1943 after multiple stints at the helm, going on to higher corps and army commands while earning the Eichenlaub to his Ritterkreuz.

Source :
https://pixpast.wordpress.com/?query-10-page=5&cst&str=428&id_parent=7898&items=12&vd=downloaded&category=7902&flow=1

Ritterkreuzträger of 8. Panzer-Division

The 8. Panzer-Division was a Wehrmacht armored formation formed in October 1939 by reorganizing the 3. leichte Division, initially equipped with a mix of Panzer II, Panzer 38(t), and other vehicles under Panzer-Regiment 8, and it went on to participate in nearly every major theater of the Second World War from the invasion of France through the grueling campaigns on the Eastern Front until its eventual surrender in 1945. In May 1940, as part of XXXXI. Armeekorps in Panzergruppe Guderian, the division spearheaded breakthroughs during the Battle of France, notably contributing to the crossings of the Meuse River and the subsequent encirclement and destruction of French 1st and 7th Armies, before occupying positions in France until early 1941. It then saw action in the Balkans Campaign in April 1941 as part of the rapid thrust into Yugoslavia, after which it was transferred east for Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 with LVI. Panzerkorps under Panzergruppe 4 of Army Group North, advancing aggressively toward Leningrad through the Baltic states, seizing key bridges and engaging in heavy fighting around Lake Ilmen and the Volkhov River while suffering mounting attrition. Throughout 1942 and 1943 the division remained on the northern and central sectors, playing a key role in the relief of the Kholm Pocket, defensive battles near Orel during the Soviet summer offensives, and the grueling withdrawals of Army Group Centre amid manpower shortages and equipment losses, before shifting south to Army Group South where it conducted repeated retrograde operations through Ukraine, counterattacks in Hungary, and final desperate stands in Silesia as part of efforts to stem the Soviet advance into the Reich. By early 1945, reduced to a shadow of its former strength with ad-hoc Kampfgruppen, the 8. Panzer-Division continued fighting in Upper Silesia and Moravia until it capitulated to Soviet forces near Olomouc in May 1945, having exemplified the mobility and striking power of German panzer units in early blitzkrieg victories while enduring the attritional realities of prolonged defensive warfare on the Ostfront.

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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER


Oberst Hans Freiherr von Wolff (1903-1944), born on 6 March 1903 in Lindenberg near Riga as Johann-Gottlieb Erich Viktor Alexander Joseph Freiherr von Wolff into a Baltic German noble family, rose through the ranks of the Wehrmacht to become a highly decorated officer who commanded armored and cavalry formations during the Second World War before succumbing to wounds on 20 June 1944 in a field hospital near Brest in the Soviet Union. Entering military service in 1922, he transferred from early SS-Reiter units to the Heer, serving as Rittmeister and later Hauptmann commanding the I. Bataillon of Schützen-Regiment 28 (part of the 8. Panzer-Division) in Panzergruppe 4 during Operation Barbarossa. His Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes was awarded on 13 July 1940 as Hauptmann for exceptional personal bravery and leadership in the Battle of France, where he repeatedly led his battalion from the front lines with weapon in hand, most notably capturing the strongly defended commanding hilltop position at Chaumont on 14 June 1940 despite intense opposition. The Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz followed on 16 January 1942 as the 61st recipient while still a Hauptmann, recognizing his battalion’s critical achievements as the spearhead of Kampfgruppe B: seizing the intact bridge at Rusenika on 22 June 1941 to enable the division’s rapid advance toward Rossitten, the capture of Pogostje and Maluksa on 15 September 1941, and sustained successes during the push toward Tikhvin in October 1941 amid fierce Soviet resistance. Later promoted to Oberst and commanding cavalry and Cossack units including elements of the Kosakenreiterbrigade, Wolff continued frontline service until his death from injuries sustained during a training exercise.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Panzer_Division
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Panzerdivisionen/8PD.htm

Heinz Guderian and Adolf-Friedrich Kuntzen

General der Panzertruppe Heinz Guderian (Kommandierender General XIX. Armeekorps), inside the Sd.Kfz.251/3 halftrack vehicle, in conversation with Generalleutnant Adolf-Friedrich Kuntzen (Kommandeur 8. Panzer-Division), giving his last instructions before an attack to the enemy. For his bold forward drive and brave attitude during the breakthrough to the Channel coastline - especially in the Battle of Montreuil sur Mer - Divisionskommandeur Kuntzen would receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 3 June 1940. The picture itself was taken by Kriegsberichter Erich Borchert in France, May 1940.

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-769-0229-02A
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/world-war-ii-heinz-guderian-german-general-leader-of-the-news-photo/92423822
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/69888/Kuntzen-Adolf-Friedrich.htm

Bio of Generalmajor Erich Fronhöfer (1895-1970)

Erich Fronhöfer

Date of Birth: 27.12.1895 - Ragaischen, Darkehnen, Ostpreußen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 12.01.1970 - Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen (West Germany)

Religion: Evangelical
Wife: Margarete Fronhöfer
Height: 5'11" (178 cm)
Hair Color: Grey
Eye Color: Brown

Promotions:
07.12.1914 Unteroffizier
05.05.1915 Fähnrich
18.06.1915 Leutnant
31.07.1925 Oberleutnant
01.05.1930 Hauptmann
01.12.1935 Major
01.01.1939 Oberstleutnant
01.11.1941 Oberst
01.08.1944 Generalmajor

Career:
Entered Army Service (19 Aug 1914)
War Volunteer in the I. Replacement-Battalion of the 34th Fusilier-Regiment (19 Aug 1914-27 Aug 1914)
Transferred to the 210th Reserve-Infantry-Regiment (27 Aug 1914-11 Nov 1914)
Wounded, in Hospital (11 Nov 1914-07 Jan 1915)
Transferred as Officer-Aspirant (07 Jan 1915-12 Feb 1915)
Transferred into the Replacement-Battalion of the 34th Fusilier-Regiment (12 Feb 1915-10 May 1915)
Detached to Training-Course for Fahnenjunker in Döberitz (18 Feb 1915-15 Apr 1915)
In the Field with the 34th Fusilier-Regiment (10 May 1915-24 Jul 1915)
Taken Ill, in Hospital (24 Jul 1915-23 Dec 1915)
Company-Officer in the 10th Company of the 34th Fusilier-Regiment (23 Dec 1915-16 Jan 1916)
Ordinance-Officer with the Staff of the 34th Fusilier-Regiment (16 Jan 1916-21 Mar 1917)
Company-Officer in the 8th Company of the 34th Fusilier-Regiment (21 Mar 1917-11 Jun 1917)
Wounded, in Hospital (11 Jun 1917-04 Jul 1917)
Adjutant of the II. Battalion of the 34th Fusilier-Regiment (04 Jul 1917-02 Sep 1918)
Gas Poisoning – Transferred to the 20th Mortar-Company (02 Sep 1918-11 Dec 1918)
Transferred to the Replacement-Battalion of the 34th Fusilier-Regiment, Detached as Demobilisation-Officer to the Garrison-Command Stettin (11 Dec 1918-14 Feb 1919)
Ordinance-Officer with the Staff of Detachment Kraehe (14 Feb 1919-15 Jun 1919)
Court-Officer in the Transit-Camp Krakow (15 Jun 1919-18 Aug 1919)
Ordinance-Officer with the Staff of the III. Battalion of the 3rd Reichswehr-Infantry-Regiment (18 Aug 1919-01 Oct 1920)
Company-Officer in the 5th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1920-01 Oct 1926)
Detached to Sports Course in Dresden (15 Jan 1921-14 Jun 1921)
Detached to Weapons School Course on the Troop-Exercise-Grounds Ohrdruf (01 May 1924-15 Aug 1924)
Subsidiary-Leadership-Training with the Staff of the 2nd Division (01 Oct 1926-01 Oct 1928)
Detached to the 7th Motor-Transport-Battalion (01 Jun 1927-31 Jul 1927)
Detached to the 3rd Signals-Battalion (01 Aug 1927-20 Sep 1927)
Detached to the 5th Signals-Battalion (01 Jul 1928-31 Jul 1928)
Detached to the 1st Motor-Transport-Battalion (01 Aug 1928-25 Sep 1928)
Transferred into the 5th Infantry-Regiment and Detached as Ordinance-Officer to the Staff of the 2nd Division (01 Oct 1928-01 Nov 1928)
Transferred to the 6th Mounted-Regiment (01 Nov 1928-01 Dec 1929)
Detached to the 2nd Motor-Transport-Battalion (01 Dec 1929-01 Jan 1930)
Transferred into the 2nd Medical-Battalion and Leader of the Unteroffiziers-Aspirant-Courses of Motor Transport Troops in Elsgrund (01 Jan 1930-01 Jan 1932)
Transferred into the 1st Artillery-Regiment (01 Jan 1932-01 Apr 1932)
Transferred into the 3rd Motor-Transport-Battalion (01 Apr 1932-01 Apr 1933)
Company-Chief in the 3rd Motor-Transport-Battalion (01 Apr 1933-01 Jul 1934)
Adjutant with the Inspection of Motor Transport Troops (01 Jul 1934-15 Oct 1935)
Adjutant with the Staff of the Command of Panzer Troops (15 Oct 1935-21 Sep 1936)
Detached to Motor Transport Battle Troop Instruction Detachment (21 Sep 1936-06 Oct 1936)
Commander of the Motor Transport Battle Troop Instruction Detachment (06 Oct 1936-12 Oct 1937)
Leader of the Tactical Courses at the Panzer Troop School (12 Oct 1937-13 Jun 1940)
Commander of the 900th Motorised-Infantry-Regiment (13 Jun 1940-10 Aug 1940)
Commander of the 10th Panzer-Regiment (10 Aug 1940-25 Feb 1942)
Führer-Reserve OKH, in Hospital (25 Feb 1942-11 May 1942)
Commander of Fast Troops in Military-District XVII (11 May 1942-10 Nov 1942)
Commander of the Officer-Aspirant-Courses at the School for Fast Troops in Zossen (10 Nov 1942-01 Apr 1943)
Commander of the Officer-Aspirant-School of Panzer Troops in Groß-Glienicke (01 Apr 1943-25 Jun 1944)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 20th Luftwaffe-Field-Division (01 Nov 1943-24 Nov 1943)
Führer-Reserve OKH (25 Jun 1944-08 Sep 1944)
Detached to the 12th Division-Leaders-Course (14 Jul 1944-16 Aug 1944)
Delegated with the Temporary-Leadership of the 114th Jäger-Division (08 Sep 1944-15 Sep 1944)
Commander of the 20th Luftwaffe-Assault-Division (15 Sep 1944-11 Dec 1944)
Führer-Reserve OKH (11 Dec 1944-01 Apr 1945)
Commander of the 547th Volksgrenadier-Division (01 Apr 1945-04 May 1945)
In Captivity (04 May 1945-18 May 1948)
Released (18 May 1948)

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.191_ 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.191_ 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in Silber
00.00.193_ Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer des Weltkrieges 1914–1918
00.00.19__ Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnungen IV. bis II.Klasse
00.07.1940 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
24.04.1941 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
24.07.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 10 / 8.Panzer-Division

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Erich Fronhöfer was born in Ragaischen, East Prussia (present-day Nagornoje, Russia) on December 27, 1895. He volunteered for service in the Füsilier Regiment No. 34 on August 19, 1914. He became a Lieutenant during the First War, was wounded twice and suffered from gas poisoning, earning him the Wound Badge in Silver. He was also decorated with the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class. After the war Fronhöfer was taken over into the Reichswehr. In 1934, at the time in the rank of Hauptmann (Captain), he was appointed Adjutant of the Inspector of Motorized Troops. In December 1935 he was promoted to Major. In October 1936 Fronhöfer took command of the Motorized Combat Troops Demonstration Battalion, testing new equipment and tactics. He went on to teach tactical courses at the Panzer Troop School. He became an Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) at the beginning of 1939. In June of 1940 Fronhöfer was appointed Commander of Infantry Regiment 900 at the Infantry School in Döberitz. In August he was made Commander of Panzer Regiment 10, which he led during the Balkan campaign, yet was not involved in combat. Afterwards Fronhöfer led the same unit to the northern part of the Eastern Front during the attack on Russia. For his successful leadership of this unit he was awarded the Knight’s Cross on July 24, 1941. He was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) later that year. In early 1942 Fronhöfer returned to Germany due to having fallen ill. He recovered and was assigned as Commander of several training units. He reached his highest rank, MajorGeneral, on August 1, 1944. In September of 1944 Fronhöfer was redeployed to Italy, and in April of 1945 briefly to the Eastern Front. After the war he spent three years as a POW of the British. Fronhöfer died on January 12, 1970.

Generalmajor Erich Fronhöfer was an early member of the German Motorized Troops.  After seeing detached motorized troop service in the late 1920s and early 1930s, he was appointed Adjutant of the Inspectorate of Motorized Troops and, later, Adjutant on Staff of the newly created Command of Panzer Troops. Both organizations were headed by General der Panzertruppe Oswald Lutz who, together with his highly talented Chief of Staff, Oberstleutnant (later Generaloberst) Heinz Guderian, helped create the operational art of modern armored warfare universally known as the “Blitzkrieg” (Lightning War). Influenced by leading British tank warfare theorists, both Lutz and Guderian developed the concept of grouping tanks into Armored (Panzer) Divisions. Guderian opined that tanks, teamed with motorized infantry and artillery, would operate as a “combined arms team” to deliver fast and decisive blows to an enemy’s flanks and rear as well as achieving decisive breakthroughs. Although these theories remained much at odds with the traditional military thinking of the day, Adolf Hitler believed in the concept and gave his support to the creation of the German Panzer Arm.

Erich Fronhöfer remained in the nascent Panzer Arm throughout the 1930s seeing service as Commander of the Motorized Combat Troops-Demonstration Battalion, a unit that tested and evaluated new equipment and operational concepts. After several years of instructor duty at the Panzer Troop School, he finally received a field command—Panzer Regiment 10—which he led during Operation “Barbarossa,” the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. Putting his years of theoretical experience to use, Fronhöfer’s regiment led the advance of the 8th Panzer Division into the Baltic States and northern Russia. After a spectacular seizure of the road and rail bridges over the Dvina River, the 8th Panzer Division pierced the “Stalin Line” and advanced to the outskirts of Leningrad. 

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/05/album-foto-tokoh-third-reich-yang_9118.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-210-0124-08A,_Russland-Nord,_Panzersoldat.jpg
https://www.emedals.com/germany-a-wartime-photo-of-panzer-commander-major-general-erich-fronhofer-kc
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalmajor/FRONHOEFER_ERICH.html
https://www.kpemig.de/Studioaufnahme-eines-Ritterkreuz-Traegers-des-Heeres-im-Ansichtskartenformat
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/125314689_erich-fronhofer
https://www.memoiresdeguerre.com/2017/01/fronhofer-erich.html
http://www.specialcamp11.co.uk/Generalmajor%20Erich%20Fronhofer.htm
http://thirdreichpictures.blogspot.com/2020/05/heer-generalmajor-f.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/30315/Fronh%C3%B6fer-Erich.htm

Ritterkreuz Action of Gottfried Frölich

Gottfried Frölich (3 June 1894 - 30 July 1959) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 December 1943 as Oberst and Führer 8.Panzer-Division / 4.Panzerarmee / Heeresgruppe Süd. Frölich’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows:

“On the afternoon of 7 November 1943 a far superior enemy force attacked the 8. Panzer-Division (at the time positioned for defense near Lipowka, on the right wing of the XIII. Armeekorps) with the aim of breaking through to the west. The divisional commander, Oberst Frölich, immediately rushed forwards to his right-wing Regiment. Disregarding the strong enemy artillery/mortar fire, he brought the retreating soldiers to a halt, reorganized them and set them up for a renewed defense. His fearless personal attitude was responsible for reversing this dangerous crisis and the creation of a new defense line along the Makaroff—Korolewka road, which was then held against all enemy thrusts.

However over the course of the evening the enemy pressure against the Division’s open right flank became ever stronger. Oberst Frölich realized that if the enemy succeeded in tying down or pushing back the 8. Panzer-Division (and consequently open the path to the Kiev—Zhitomir road) it would create an extraordinary danger both for the Korps as well as the entire overall situation.

The situation continued to build up. Waiting for orders was impossible as the communication links to the Korps were destroyed, and its’ intent was unknown. Therefore Oberst Frölich resolved to block the way to the Kiev—Zhitomir road with his Division on his own initiative. As such he ordered his men to retreat from the enemy and establish a new defensive line Szitnjaki—Maliwaikowka. When he received an order from the Korps just after midnight to occupy the line Motyshin—Makaroff, Oberst Frölich stood by his original decision given his full knowledge of the situation. The commanding general would eventually agree with Frölich’s decision, and the later course of the battle would demonstrate the decisive importance of this move.

On that same night the enemy tried to break through at Mainjaki with tanks and infantry, however they were thrown back thanks to the timely defensive measures taken. The next day the enemy would continue to attempt thrusts around and north of Szitnjaki with tanks and far superior infantry and artillery forces. In these battles Oberst Frölich would again constantly remain near his foremost strongpoints.

The personal example of the divisional commander inspired his soldiers throughout the ceaseless heavy fighting, and as such they were able to ward off all enemy attacks for the entire day despite the massive enemy artillery support and their great numerical superiority. This prevented a surprise enemy thrust along the Kiev—Zhitomir road towards Zhitomir. This success was made possible by Oberst Frölich’s independent and game-changing decision.

The Division was named in the Wehrmachtbericht of 10 November 1943 in light of its achievements.”

Submitted on December 15th 1943.
Preliminary document and decoration on December 24th 1943 to Pz.AOK 4.

Source :
Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/kurt-von-tippelskirch_7414BAD830
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/4732/Fr%C3%B6lich-Gottfried.htm

Bio of Generalmajor Gottfried Frölich (1894-1959)

Raimund Erwin Gottfried Frölich

PERSONAL
DATE OF BIRTH: 3 June 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH: Dresden
DATE OF DEATH: 30 July 1959
PLACE OF DEATH: Heidenheim
RELIGION: Evangelical
HEIGHT: 6'1"
WEIGHT: 174lbs
HAIR COLOUR: Dark Brown
EYE COLOUR: Brown
NEXT OF KIN: Liselotte Froehlich, (British Zone)

Promotions:
12.08.1914 Fahnenjunker
09.10.1914 Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
23.12.1914 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
06.03.1915 Fähnrich
16.05.1915 Leutnant (Patent 23 May 1914; later changed to 1 September 1915)
01.04.1925 Oberleutnant
01.10.1929 Hauptmann
01.10.1935 Major
01.06.1938 Oberstleutnant
01.07.1941 Oberst (RDA later changed to 1 August 1940)
01.12.1943 Generalmajor

Career:
Entered Army Service (12 Aug 1914)
Fahnenjunker in the II. Replacement-Battalion of the 48th Field-Artillery-Regiment (12 Aug 1914-06 Feb 1915)
In the Field with the 48th Field-Artillery-Regiment (06 Feb 1915-16 May 1916)
Detached to Gas Course in Leverkusen (10 Aug 1915-16 Aug 1915)
Wounded, in Hospital (16 May 1916-06 Jul 1916)
Transferred to the II. Replacement-Battalion of the 48th Field-Artillery-Regiment (06 Jul 1916-21 Aug 1916)
In the Field with the 48th Field-Artillery-Regiment (21 Aug 1916-20 Dec 1918)
Adjutant of the I. Battalion of the 48th Field-Artillery-Regiment (15 Aug 1917-07 Dec 1917)
Detached to Firing-School in Remberlow (26 Jan 1918-20 Feb 1918)
Court-Officer and Executive of the Mobilisation-Detachment of the II. Replacement-Battalion of the 48th Field-Artillery-Regiment (20 Dec 1918-19 Aug 1919)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 48th Part-Time-Volunteer-Field-Artillery-Regiment (19 Aug 1919-10 Dec 1919)
Transferred into the 12th Reichswehr-Artillery-Regiment (10 Dec 1919-20 Oct 1920)
Detached to the 12th Transport-Battalion (20 Oct 1920-01 Jan 1921)
Transferred into the 4th Transport-Battalion (01 Jan 1921-01 Oct 1922)
Detached to Signals-Course with the 4th Signals-Battalion (01 Feb 1921-27 Feb 1921)
Transferred into the 4th Medical-Battalion (01 Oct 1922-01 Feb 1925)
Detached to Firing Course in Königsberg (20 Sep 1923-19 Oct 1923)
Detached to the 5th Pioneer-Battalion (11 Nov 1924-26 Nov 1924)
Transferred back into the 4th Transport-Battalion (01 Feb 1925-01 Oct 1927)
Detached to Transport and Equipment Course in Hannover (01 Jun 1926-31 Jul 1926)
Detached to Officer-Weapons-School-Course in Dresden (01 Oct 1926-20 Feb 1927)
Battalion-Adjutant of the 4th Transport-Battalion (01 Oct 1927-01 Oct 1929)
Transferred to the 6th Battery of the 4th Artillery-Regiment (01 Oct 1929-01 Oct 1930)
Detached to Firing Course for Artillery-Officers in Jüterbog (25 Sep 1930-05 Nov 1930)
Hauptmann with the Staff of the II. Battalion of the 4th Artillery-Regiment (01 Oct 1930-01 Oct 1931)
Chief of the 5th Battery of the 4th Artillery-Regiment (01 Oct 1931-01 Apr 1934)
Adjutant of Artillery-Leader IV (01 Apr 1934-01 Oct 1934)
Commander of the I. Battalion of the Artillery-Regiment Naumburg (01 Oct 1934-15 Oct 1935)
Commander of the I. Battalion of the 14th Artillery-Regiment (15 Oct 1935-10 Nov 1938)
Detached for Reinforcement of the Instruction-Staff of the Artillery-School Jüterbog (29 Jul 1937-27 Aug 1937)
Commander of the II. Battalion of the 76th Artillery-Regiment (10 Nov 1938-19 Oct 1939)
Commander of the 78th Panzer-Artillery-Regiment (19 Oct 1939-1943)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 7th Grenadier-Regiment (1943-09 Jun 1943)
Führer-Reserve OKH (09 Jun 1943-12 Sep 1943)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 36th Infantry-Regiment (12 Sep 1943-20 Sep 1943)
Delegated with the Temporary Leadership of the 8th Panzer-Division (20 Sep 1943-05 Nov 1943)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 8th Panzer-Division (05 Nov 1943-01 Dec 1943)
Commander of the 8th Panzer-Division (01 Dec 1943-01 Apr 1944)
Führer-Reserve OKH, in Hospital (01 Apr 1944-20 Jul 1944)
Commander of the 8th Panzer-Division (20 Jul 1944-22 Jan 1945)
Führer-Reserve OKH, in Hospital (22 Jan 1945-18 Mar 1945)
Leader of Corps-Group von Tettau (18 Mar 1945-10 Apr 1945)
Higher Artillery Commander of the 3rd Panzer-Army (Higher Artillery Commander 313) (10 Apr 1945-02 May 1945)
In Captivity (02 May 1945-19 May 1948)
Released (19 May 1948)

Awards & Decorations:
27.10.1915 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
30.04.1917 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
19.02.1916 Ritterkreuz II.Klasse des Königlich Sächsische Albrechts-Orden mit Schwertern
20.03.1916 Komturkreuz II. Klasse des Königliche Sächsische Verdienstorden
15.04.1918 Ritterkreuz des königlichen Sächsen Militär St. Heinrichs-Orden
19.08.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen (1918)
14.11.1918 Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern
15.01.1935 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
02.10.1936 Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht II.Klasse, 18 Jahre
27.09.1939 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
10.11.1939 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (according to other sources on 16.11.1939)
20.08.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942" (Ostmedaille)
02.01.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
11.11.1943 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht
20.12.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberst and Führer 8. Panzer-Division
19.10.1944 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht

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Gottfried Frölich (3 June 1894 – 30 July 1959) was born in Dresden on 3 June 1894, Frölich joined the army of Imperial Germany in 1914, upon the outbreak of World War I, as a Fahnenjunker (officer cadet). Posted to the Wuerttemberger 49th Field Artillery Regiment, he was commissioned a leutnant (second lieutenant) the following year. His regiment was attached to the 27th Infantry Division which was serving on the Western Front as part of the XIII (Royal Württemberg) Corps. He was wounded in May 1916 while participating in the corps' offensive in the Ypres Salient. After recovering from his wounds, he was posted to his regiment's I. Battalion as its adjutant. He continued to serve on the Western Front for the remainder of the war, seeing action in the areas around the Somme, Cambrai and Flanders.

Frölich was retained in the postwar Reichswehr (Imperial Defence) and served initially with the 12th Artillery Regiment. He then held a series of battalion posts, none of which were in the artillery, and by 1929 was the adjutant of the 4th Transportation Battalion. He was then placed on the staff of the 4th Artillery Regiment and from 1931 to 1934 was a battery commander. By 1938, he was a Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) commanding the II. Battalion, 76th Panzer Artillery Regiment. His regiment was attached to the 1st Light Division during the Invasion of Poland.

After serving in Poland, the 1st Light Division returned to Germany, where it began converting to a Panzer division. However, shortly after this process began, Frölich was appointed the commander of the 78th Panzer Artillery Regiment, which was part of the 7th Panzer Division, led by Generalmajor Erwin Rommel. He remained in command of the regiment throughout the Battle of France and then in Operation Barbarossa, where it was particularly effective in supporting the division as it advanced towards Moscow. Apart from a period in France while the division was resting after being heavily involved in the offensive mounted by the Soviet Army over the winter of 1941–42, Frölich served on the Eastern Front until after the Battle of Kursk in July 1943. He was then given command of the 36th Infantry Division, which he led for only a few weeks before appointed commander of 8th Panzer Division in late September. His new command was then serving on the Eastern Front and would be in extensive action for several months. In December 1943, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and promoted to generalmajor.

In March 1944, Frölich became sick and ceded command of the 8th Panzer Division to a former staff officer, Oberst Werner Friebe. However, Freibe proved to be an inadequate commander at divisional level and performed poorly in operations mounted in early July to rescue the XIII Corps, encircled by Soviet forces. The day after several regimental commanders of the division did not follow orders to advance, Frölich returned to his former command. He restored some order and launched an attack to relieve the XIII Corps but this failed and it was largely lost to the Soviets. Over 2,000 personnel of the division were casualties but it remained on the front lines. He led it adequately in the fighting retreat into Hungary, where the division destroyed the 34th Guards Rifle Division in early 1945. However, when sent to the Hungarian city of Komárom, in which there were oil refineries still supplying the Nazi war effort, Frölich was unable to prevent the Soviet advance. It was only the intervention of German reinforcements that secured Komárom. For his failure, Frölich was relieved of his command.

Frölich, in mid-March 1945, took over command of the Korpsgruppe von Tettau (Corps Group von Tettau). This was an ad-hoc formation largely made up of Volkssturm and training units. Expected to defend two key cities in Pomerania along the Baltic Coast, he could do little to prevent their capture by the Soviets. The following month he was named Harko (Higher Artillery Commander) of the 3rd Panzer Army by General der Panzertruppe Hasso von Manteuffel, with whom he had served during his time with the 7th Panzer Division. When the 3rd Panzer Army moved west in May 1945, it, and Frölich, surrendered to British forces. He was released in May 1948 and lived in Meisenheim. He died in Heidenheim on 30 July 1959.

Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/kurt-von-tippelskirch_7414BAD830
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gottfried_Fr%C3%B6lich
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalmajor/FROELICH_GOTTFRIED.html
http://www.specialcamp11.co.uk/Generalmajor%20Gottfried%20Frolich.htm