Fritsch, Werner von (1880-1939)

German general. He served with distinction in World War I and by 1934 was a general. Contemptuous of politics, he was nonetheless appointed commander-in-chief of the Army 1934, but his opposition to the introduction of Nazi ideology in the military soon upset Hitler and he was forced into retirement 1938 by a false charge of homosexuality.

His departure removed the only obstacle to Hitler's reorganization of the Army High Command. He remained an honorary colonel of his old artillery regiment and accompanied them in the invasion of Poland 1939, where he was killed by a sniper outside Warsaw.