Fritz Prager

Fritz Prager
Born	(1905-12-17)17 December 1905 Wolfenbüttel, Germany
Died	Braunschweig, Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer Luftwaffe
Years of service	1923–45
Rank	Major
Commands held	II. / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 II. / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of the Netherlands Battle of Narvik
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Fritz Prager (born 17 December 1905 in Wolfenbüttel; died 3 December 1940 in Braunschweig) was a member of the Fallschirmjäger during World War II.

Fritz Prager joined the Reichswehr on 26 November 1923 as a member of the 10th Infantry Regiment. Prager's battalion was one of the few parachute units to see combat during the Invasion of Poland, where it captured the Wola Gulowska airfield. For this action Prager was awarded the Iron Cross (1939) second class on 13 October 1939 by General Kurt Student.

Although hospitalized for treatment of cancer, Captain Prager had himself dismissed by his doctors to command his 1st Parachute Regiment's II Battalion during the battle of the Netherlands. His battalion was parachute-dropped on both sides of the Moerdyk bridges across the Meuse. They managed to seize the Dutch positions, although suffering substantial losses, and particularly seizing intact bridges, being vital to the smooth operation of the German ground forces in the Netherlands theatre. After holding the bridgehead for three consecutive days ground forces of the XXVIth Army Corps relieved Prager and his troops at Moerdijk.

Prager had been wounded during the seizure of the Moerdijk bridgehead, tying him to bed during the rest of the siege. He did however continue to command his battalion and organise defences time and again, anticipating things to come. For his courage and leadership during the battle for the Netherlands Prager was awarded with the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Prager was promoted to Major on 19 June 1940 and on 1 July took command of the 3rd Parachute Regiment's II Battalion. He died on 3 December 1940 in Braunschweig, of cancer.

Awards

• Fallschirmschützenabzeichen
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (13 October 1939)
  • 1st Class (10 May 1940)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 24 May 1940 as Hauptmann and commander of II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1