(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins & Denis Bosvin)
Generalleutnant Friedrich-Carl Cranz
Born: 14 Nov 1886 in Kulm, West Prussia (Westpreußen)
Died: 24 Mar 1941 on Troop Exercise Grounds Neuhammer (Fatal Accident)
Promotions:
Fähnrich (15 Sep 1905); Leutnant (21 May 1906); Oberleutnant (28 Oct 1914); Hauptmann (18 Dec 1915); Major (01 Nov 1928); Oberstleutnant (01 Apr 1933); Oberst (01 Apr 1935); Generalmajor (01 Jun 1938); Generalleutnant (01 Jul 1940)
Career:
Entered Army Service (14 Jan 1905)
Fahnenjunker in the 113th Infantry-Regiment (14 Jan 1905-01 Oct 1911)
Adjutant of the III. Battalion of the 113th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1911-28 Oct 1914)
Brigade-Adjutant (18 Dec 1915-01 Aug 1916)
Company-Leader in the 113th Infantry-Regiment (01 Aug 1916-00 Jan 1917)
Auxiliary-Officer with the General-Command of the VIII. Reserve-Corps (00 Jan 1917-30 Mar 1917)
2nd General-Staff-Officer in the Staff of the 115th Infantry-Division (30 Mar 1917-27 Feb 1918)
Transferred into the General-Staff (27 Feb 1918-00 Jun 1918)
Chief Of Operations (Ia) in the Staff of the 45th Reserve-Division (00 Jun 1918-01 Oct 1919)
Company-Chief in the 102nd Reichswehr-Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1919-01 Oct 1920)
Company-Chief in the 4th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1920-01 Apr 1922)
Transferred to the Staff of the Infantry-Leader II, transfer was cancelled at his own request, and remained in previous position (01 Apr 1922)
Company-Chief in the 4th Infantry-Regiment (01 Apr 1922-01 Apr 1926)
Adjutant of the Command-Office Berlin (01 Apr 1926-15 Mar 1929)
With the Staff of the III. Battalion of the 14th Infantry-Regiment (15 Mar 1929-01 Nov 1930)
Commander of the III. Battalion of the 14th Infantry-Regiment (01 Nov 1930-15 Jan 1933)
With the Staff of the 5th Division (15 Jan 1933-01 Oct 1934)
Adjutant in the General-Command of the V. Army-Corps (01 Oct 1934-01 Aug 1936)
Chief of the II. Department of the Army Personnel Office (01 Aug 1936-26 Aug 1939)
Commander of the 18th Infantry-Division (26 Aug 1939-24 Mar 1941)
Killed in a fatal accident (24 Mar 1941)

Awards & Decorations:
- Ritterkreuz (50): am 29.06.1940 als Generalmajor und Komm. 18. Infanteriedivision/ X Armeekorps/ 18. Armee/ Heeresgruppe B
- 1939 EK I –S-
- 1939 EK II –S-
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Ritterkreuz des Grossherzoglich-Badischen Ordens vom Zähringer Löwen mit Schwertern
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung I Klasse


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