Johannes Wilhelm Arthur "Hänschen" Frömming (28 June 1910 – 8 November 1996) was a German

harness racing Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait (a trot or a pace). They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, spider, or chariot occupied by a driver. In Europe, and less frequently in Australia ...

driver and trainer. He is one of the most legendary horsemen in

European European, or Europeans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...

harness racing. Frömming started his career at the age of 16 in 1926 and drove his last race in 1988. He won a total of 5,592 races. Frömming's major racing wins include three

Prix d'Amérique Prix d'Amérique is a harness race held at the Hippodrome de Vincennes in Paris, France. The race takes place on the last Sunday of January every year, and has been doing so since 1920, with the exception for the years 1940-1941 when it was cance ...

and four Elitloppet victories. He was the German driving champion 11 times in a row from 1934 to 1944 and again in 1947 and 1948. In 1950 and 1953 Frömming tied the title with Gerhard Krüger.

Awards and honors

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Frömming employed three

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

horsemen on his farm outside

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

and hid them from the

Nazi Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

authorities. He was later honored for his action by

B'nai B'rith International B'nai B'rith International ( ; from ) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit Jewish service organization and was formerly a cultural association for German Jewish immigrants to the United States. B'nai B'rith states that it is committed to the sec ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. In 1972 Frömming received the

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (, or , BVO) is the highest state decoration, federal decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It may be awarded for any field of endeavor. It was created by the first List of president ...

. He was nominated to the

Germany's Sports Hall of Fame The Germany's Sports Hall of Fame () is the national sports hall of fame in Germany, initiated 2006. The inductions are made by Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe, Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund and Verband Deutscher Sportjournalisten. Members Uli ...

in 2008. The Johannes Frömming Memorial is raced annually at the Bahrenfeld Racetrack in

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

. There is a street named for him near the former Hamburg race track Farmsen.

Major racing victories

Germany * Deutsches Traber-Derby – Xifra (1933), Adriatica (1940), Alwa (1941), Stella Maris (1943), Avanti (1947), Docht (1951), Dom (1953), Ditmarsia (1961), Salesiana (1965), Kurio (1972), Alsterhof (1974) Austria * Graf Kalman Hunyady Memorial – Xiphias (1936), Peter von Lurup (1938), Iltis (1943), Van der Hölgy (1944), Ejadon (1953), Eileen Eden (1970) * Österreichisches Traber-Derby – Van der Hölgy (1942), Kaaba (1944), Damara S (1976), Daniel (1977) Denmark * Copenhagen Cup – Eidelstedter (1962) France *

– Nike Hanover (1964), Ozo (1965), Delmonica Hanover (1974) *

Prix de France Prix was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1975 by Tommy Hoehn and Jon Tiven. The group ended up primarily as a studio project. Its recordings were produced by Tiven along with former Big Star member Chris Bell, who a ...

– Elma (1966) Italy * Campionato Europeo – Hit Song (1955), Eileen Eden (1968, 1969, 1970) * Gran Premio Lotteria – Eileen Eden (1968, 1969) Sweden * Elitloppet – Eidelstedter (1962), Elma (1965), Eileen Eden (1968, 1970) *

Åby Stora Pris Åby Stora Pris (literally "Åby Grand Prize") is an annual Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Åby Racetrack in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden. Åby Stora Pris has taken place since 1936, the same year Åby Ra ...

– Ejadon (1955) United States *

Challenge Cup The Rugby Football League Challenge Cup, commonly known just as the Challenge Cup is a Single-elimination tournament, knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League, held annually since 1896, it is the world's old ...

– Nike Hanover (1964)

Sources

Germany's Trotting Hall of Fame (in German)Germany's Sports Hall of Fame (in German)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fromming, Johannes 1910 births 1996 deaths German harness racers German horse trainers Sportspeople from Berlin German people who rescued Jews during the Holocaust Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany