Fritz Theodor Carl von Below
(23.09.1853 - 23.11.1918)
place of birth:  Danzig, Westpreußen  (Gdansk, Poland)
Königreich Preußen:  OBH,  General der Infanterie


Prussian General der Infanterie Fritz von Below served during the Great War as a corps-level and field army commander. He was the son of General Ferdinand von Below (1812-70), commander of the 36. Infanterie-Brigade who was killed during the Franco-Prussian War at Pont a Mousson.  Fritz is often mistakenly identified as the brother of his cousin General Otto von Below. Fritz did have two brothers who were likewise generals during the War, Ernst and Nikolaus. Their mother was Therese Mauve (1823-95).

A vigorous, aggressive and capable officer, Fritz was already commander of XXI. Armee-Korps (1912-15) when Germany mobilized; this corps distinguished itself during the bitter winter Battle of Masurian Lakes II (February 1915). He later replaced von Bülow as commander of the 2. Armee-Oberkommando (1915-16) which defended against the Anglo-French Somme Offensive (July 1916).  Later, as head of the 1. Armee-Oberkommando (1916-18), he was in charge of northern sector forces of the Somme battlefield, helping to defeat the Aisne-Champagne Offensive in 1917. He ultimately commanded 9. Armee (1918) but contracted pneumonia and died in Weimar, 23 November 1918. Awarded Pour le Merite in 1915 for successful campaigns on the Western Front.

	General der Infanterie	13.09.1912
	Pour le Mérite	14.03.1915  (Eichenlaub:  11.08.1916)
	Militär-St-Heinrich	28.08.1916  Ritter