Helmut Friebe

Who was Helmut Friebe?

Helmut Friebe was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the LXIV. Armeekorps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

He took up his command in Crete in May 1944 after the kidnap of General Kreipe by Patrick Leigh Fermor and Bill Stanley Moss working with Cretan andartes.

Friebe was captured by American troops in May 1945 and was released in 1947. Helmut Friebe was the older brother of Generalmajor Werner Friebe, who is also a Knight's Cross recipient.