Koch, Friedrich, born 05-01-1879 in Odenkirchen, 
joined the Army on 20-09-1897, age 18, as a Fahnenjunker in the Königlich Preußische Armee, 
in the 2nd Westfälisches Infanterie-Regiment “Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande” Nr. 15
“Fritz” was promoted to Leutnant on 27-01-1899 and on 22-03-1912 as Oberleutnant in the General Staff commanded. During World War I he was awarded with the Ritterkreuz of the Königlich Preußischen Hausordens von Hohenzollern with Schwertern 
and both the Iron Crosses 
. Koch was allowed in the new 100.000 men Reichswehr after the war. He was promoted to Generalmajor on 01-02-1931 and retired on 01-11-1931 as Generalleutnant to join the Stahlhelm Corps 
, a after war organisation under SA leader, Ernst Julius Röhm
.
In 1934 he announced to the NSDAP, 
with number 4.616.213 and on 20-04-1937 he joined the SS as SS Standartenführer with number 279.971. The same year he was promoted to SS Oberführer and with the outbreak of World War II he was reactivated to the Reichswehr again. Koch was assigned as Commander of the 254th Infantry Division, 
on 26-08-1939 and on the Western Front. He changed command mid 1940 to the command of the new XXXXIV Armeekorps 
He was promoted to Generalleutnant and was with his division in the Western battles. On 01-12-1940 he became a General of the Infantry with the command of the XXXXIV Army Corps, there he was succeeded by Generalleutnant der Infanterie, Otto Stapf. 
With this Corps he was on the Eastern Front in battles in South of Russia and received the Ritterkreuz of the Iron Cross, on 13-10-1941, for excellent leading. Still he lost his commando on 10-12-1941 and landed in the Führer Reserve 
(see Adolf Hitler) and retired on 31-05-1942. In the same year he is promoted to SS Gruppenführer, Heinrich Himmler 
needed him and on 01-06-1944 he is transferred to the high Command Staff West.
Death and burial ground of Koch, Friedrich Wilhelm “Fritz”.
After the war Koch lived in Bonn, where he at the age of 82 died of a heart attack, on 03-11-1961 and is buried with his wife Grete, born Kipper, who died age 60, on 26-06-1943, on the cemetery of Kessenich, suburb of Bonn. Close by the grave of Generalleutnant der Infanterie, Kommandant rückwärtiges (Rear Region) Armeegebiet 580, Kurt Agricola.
Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster: robhopmans@outlook.com
Leave a Reply