Gräser, Fritz Hubert.

Gräser, Fritz Hubert, born 03-11-1888 in Frankfurt an der Oder, the son of the Prussian Hauptmann Ernst Gräser, and who was last Generalleutnant in World War I and commander of the 41st Infantry Division from 14-11-1917 to 24-08-1918.  Fritz joined the Army on 28-02-1907, age 18, as a Fähnrich, in the Grenadier-Regiment „Prinz Carl von Preußen“ Nr. 12 in Frankfurt. Fritz participated with his Regiment in the first war and was in the fields as an adjutant. He ended the war as the 1^st Officer in the General Staff of the 1^st Replacement Division. Gräser retired on 02-07-1919, age 40, reactivated on 01-11-1932 as commander of the Wehrkreis Region Frankfurt. Major on 01-05-1934, Oberstleutnant on 01-03-1936 and Oberst on 01-10-1938. Assigned as commander of the 29^th Infantry Regiment, on 26-08-1939, he was with the invasion of Poland and the Western Front. He participated also, with his Regiment, in Operation Barbarossa and severely wounded on 11-07-1941, as his left leg was amputated and the right knee shattered. During his recovery he was in the Führer Reserve (see Adolf Hitler) (did you know) and on 01-10-1941 promoted to Generalmajor. He here with Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim got the command of the 3^rd Panzer Grenadier Division and promoted to Generalleutnant on 15-05-1943. Von Edelsheim died 26-04-1994 (aged 96) in Konstanz. Most of the men and equipment of the Grenadier Division landed and ended in the Pocket of Stalingrad. On 31-05-1944 he lost his command to Generalmajor der Panzertruppe, 345 ^th  Infanterie-Division, Hans Hecker   who died old age 84, on 01-05-1979 and again landed in the Führer Reserve and followed a training for commanding Generals in Hirschberg. He became commander of the XXIV Panzer Corps, he succeeded General der Panzertruppe, Walther Nehring   and from 20-08-1944 the command of the XXXXVIII Panzer Corps. He became a General of the Panzertruppe on 01-09-1944 and Corps Commander. On 21-09-1944 he got the command of the 4^th Panzer Army  he succeeded General der Panzertruppe, Hermann Balck, until 30-01-1945. The 4^th Panzer Group’s predecessor was the XVI Army Corps, under Generaloberst der Wehrmacht, Erich Kurt Richard “Der Alte Reiter” (The Old Cavalryman) Hoepner

Hoepner was hanged  in the Plötzensee prison, age 57, on 08-08-1944, involved in the July 20 bomb attack, formed in Berlin in February 1938. It fought in Poland and in the campaign in the West. In February 1941, Panzer Group 4 was created, taking over activities of XVI Corps and placed under Army Group North, under General Field Marshal, Fedor von Bock.  When Germany surrendered to the Allied Gräser was in US captivity, until June 1947. His son Leutnant Gräser was killed in battle, age 21, on 11-10-1941.

    Living in Göttingen after the war he at the very old age of 91 died, on 04-10-1980 and is buried with his wife Edelgard, born Brussatis, who died age 73 on 06-04-1973, on the Stadfriedhof of Göttingen. On the tombstone the son is also noted, Leutnant Fritz-Dietrich Gräser (born 22-06-1920 in Reppen; so named after his father’s brother who fell in 1914), who fell on the Eastern Front on 11-10-1941 and whose bones are in the post-war period could not be found. Also noted on the tombstone is Edelgard’s brother, Oberst Helmut Brussatis, most recently combat commander for the Alfeld district. It could not be determined whether Leutnant Adalbert Brussatis, who fell on 05-04-1945, is also a relative, but it can be assumed.

Closeby the graves of other WWII as Generalleutnant der Flieger, Chief of Field Economics Office, OKW, Wilhelm Becker, Generalleutnant der Artillerie, Kommandeur 34^th Division, Wilhelm Bremer, Generalleutnant der Infantrie, Kommandeur der 83^th Infanterie Division , Wilhelm Heun, General der Infanterie, Commander of 4^th Heeresgruppe, Friedrich Hossbach 

          

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