Fritz Eschmann (born 7 June 1909 Dieringhausen - 27 February 1997 Gummersbach ) was a German army officer and politician (SPD). He was a member of the German Bundestag.

Military

Eschmann completed an apprenticeship as a locksmith in the Steinmüller boiler factory from 1923 to 1927 and then worked as a journeyman locksmith in Gummersbach until 1932. He then joined the police. In 1936 he joined the Wehrmacht and was a professional soldier until 1945. In the Second World War he was an infantryman and was promoted to officer. He then served as a captain in the

5th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht) The 5th Panzer Division ( en, 5th Tank Division) was an armoured division of the German Army during World War II, established in 1938. The division fought in Poland, France, the Balkans and in the Soviet Union; first as part of Army Group Centr ...

. He was awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class and in August 1944 he received the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight' ...

Politics

Eschmann was a member of the Oberberg District Council from 1948 to 1962 and from 1964 to 1969, and a member of the

German Bundestag German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

from 1953 to 1969. He represented the Oberbergischer Kreis constituency in Parliament. He was a member of the Defense Committee

Rudolf Vierhaus Rudolf Vierhaus (29 October 1922 – 13 November 2011) was a German historian who mainly researched the Early modern period. He had been a professor at the newly founded Ruhr University Bochum since 1964. From 1971, he was director of the in Göt ...

, Ludolf Herbst (Hrsg.), Bruno Jahn (Mitarb.): ''Biographisches Handbuch der Mitglieder des Deutschen Bundestages. 1949–2002.'' Bd. 1: ''A–M.'' K. G. Saur, München 2002, ISBN 3-598-23782-0, S. 191–192

References

German Army officers of World War II 1997 deaths 1909 births Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Military personnel from North Rhine-Westphalia Politicians from North Rhine-Westphalia Members of the Bundestag for North Rhine-Westphalia Members of the Bundestag for the Social Democratic Party of Germany Members of the Bundestag 1953–1957 Members of the Bundestag 1957–1961 Members of the Bundestag 1961–1965 Members of the Bundestag 1965–1969 {{Germany-SPD-politician-stub