World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseMaximilian Fretter-Pico was born in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and entered service on 20 Sep 1910 with German Army's artillery units. He was a junior officer with the German Army at the start of WW1; at the very end of that conflict, he was 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 European War, he missed the campaigns in Poland and France. In Mar 1941, he was promoted to the rank of major general.

ww2dbaseAt the start of Operation Barbarossa, Fretter-Pico was given command of the 97th Jäger Division in Army Group South. On 27 Dec 1941, he was given command of the XXX Corps, which participated in the Battle of Sevastopol in southern Ukraine. He was known as a by-the-books general who lacked imagination, thus his commanding officer Erich von Manstein did not rely upon him during the battle at Sevastopol. To prove himself, he launch 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.

ww2dbaseFretter-Pico was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on 15 Jan 1942, and a full general by Jun 1942. He remained the commanding officer of the XXX Corps until mid-1944, and then commanded the 6th Army for the remainder of the year. On 30 Mar 1945, he was given command of the IX Corps, an under-strength reserve unit. He was captured by American forces on 22 Apr 1945 and remained a prisoner until 1947. Fretter-Pico passed away at Bad Wiessee, Bavaria, Germany.

Maximilian Fretter-Pico Timeline