Fritz Klingenberg
Fritz Klingenberg | |
|---|---|
Klingenberg in 1943 | |
| Nickname | Ball Hunter |
| Born | 17 December 1912 |
| Died | 23 March 1945 (aged 32) |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Waffen-SS |
| Service years | 1935–1945 |
| Rank | SS-Standartenführer |
| Unit | SS Division Das Reich |
| Commands | SS Division Götz von Berlichingen |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Fritz Paul Heinrich Otto Klingenberg (17 December 1912 – 23 March 1945) was a German officer in the Waffen-SS who served with the SS Division Das Reich and was a commander of the SS Division Götz von Berlichingen. He was best known for his role in the capture of the Yugoslavian capital, Belgrade, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
In April 1941, the German Army invaded Yugoslavia and then Greece. Klingenberg, a company commander in the Das Reich division, led his unit to the capital, Belgrade, where a small group in the vanguard accepted the surrender of the city on 13 April. A few days later, Yugoslavia surrendered.