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Maximilian Fretter-Pico (6 February 1892 – 4 April 1984) was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Maximilian Fretter-Pico was born in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Fretter-Pico entered service on 20 September 1910 with the Imperial German Army's artillery units. He was a junior officer at the start of World War I. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to the rank of captain. During the inter-war years, he remained in the German military, reaching the rank of major by the time the Nazi Party came to power. In 1938, as a colonel, he was sent to Turkey as a military attaché. Although he was recalled to Germany for the outbreak of World War II in Europe, he missed the campaigns in Poland and France. In Mar 1941, he was promoted to the rank of major general.
At the start of Operation Barbarossa, Fretter-Pico was given command of the 97th Jäger Division in Army Group South. On 27 December 1941, he was given command of XXX Corps, which participated in the Battle of Sevastopol in southern Ukraine. He was known as a by-the-book general who lacked imagination, and thus his commanding officer Erich von Manstein did not rely upon him during the battle at Sevastopol. To prove himself, he launched an offensive at the southern end of the Russian defenses at Sevastopol. Although he made some minor advances, his attack caused too many casualties, and it was frowned upon by Manstein as Fretter-Pico engaged his forces in a piecemeal fashion instead of attempting to overwhelm the Russian defenses.
Fretter-Pico was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on 15 January 1942, and a full general by June 1942. He remained the commanding officer of XXX Corps until mid-1944, and then commanded the 6th Army for the remainder of the year. On 30 March 1945, he was given command of IX Corps, an under-strength reserve unit. He was captured by American forces on 22 April 1945 and remained a prisoner until 1947.
Fretter-Pico died at Bad Wiessee in Bavaria, Germany.
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