Herman F. Fritzenkotter Papers MS-0495
Amanda Lanthorne
Special Collections & University Archives
06/08/2012
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego, CA 92182-8050
askscua@sdsu.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & University Archives
Title: Herman F. Fritzenkotter Papers
Creator:
Fritzenkotter, Herman F.
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0495
Physical Description:
1.21 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1941-1990
Language of Material:
English
.
Scope and Contents
The
Herman F. Fritzenkotter Papers primarily document Fritzenkotter's military service during the Second World War. The collection includes scrapbooks composed
of photographs, news clippings, and letters; service medals, including the Bronze Star; photographs of several of Fritzenkotter's
sculptures, and several military artifacts. As a soldier in the 8th Infantry Regiment, Fritzenkotter took part in numerous
battles in both France and Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge. His scrapbooks capture camp life as well as the devastation
of war. Of particular interest are candid photographs of soldiers before and after battle; as well as graphic photographs
of concentration camps during liberation. These scrapbooks also contain photographs from Fritzenkotter's later visits to various
battle sites decades after the end of the war. The collection also includes several German military artifacts, including a
ceremonial dagger as well as a German map and leather map case. Although the collection is arranged alphabetically, the artifacts
are not in any particular order.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with
the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections
is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be
submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available
for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including
but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
Source of Acquisition
Patricia Allard Fritzenkotter
Accruals and Additions
2011-008, 2011-062
Related Materials
World War II San Diego State College Servicmen's Correspondence Collection
Robert M. Briggs Papers
Breo Freeman World War I Photograph Collection
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, folder title, box number, Herman F. Fritzenkotter Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University Library.
Biographical Note
Herman Fredrick Fritzenkotter was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1923. Two years later his family moved to San Diego. Fritzenkotter
graduated from Sweetwater High School in 1941 and enrolled at San Diego State College that same year. Shortly thereafter,
he left college to join the Merchant Marines. In September of 1943, he enlisted with the United States Army. He was sent to
Europe where he served as Message Center Chief for the 8
th Infantry Regiment, 4
th (Ivy) Division. Fritzenkotter and his regiment saw action in Normandy, Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland,
and in Central Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 1945 for bravery on the field.
After the war, Fritzenkotter returned to San Diego State College where he was an active member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
In 1949, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in art. A year later he married Patricia Allard. Fritzenkotter worked as an
industrial canvas salesman, and created wood sculptures in his spare time. During his semi-retirement, he and his wife travelled
throughout Europe, returning to many of the battlefields he had fought at. He remained active at San Diego State as a member
of the Retirement Association, Alumni Association, and the President's Leadership Fund.
Fritzenkotter died on May 29, 2009. He had two children, Kurt and Anna.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945--Sources
Photograph albums
box 1, folder 1
Sculpture Photograph Album Folder 1
1960-1990
box 1, folder 2
Bronze Star Medal Certificate and Citation Medal Folder 2
1966
box 1, folder 3
Photograph of Fritzenkotter in Uniform Folder 3
c. 1940s
box 1, folder 4
World War II Service Medals Folder 4
c. 1940s
box 1, folder 5
World War II Binder / Scrapbook Folder 5
1944-1994
box 2, item 1
World War II Photograph Album Item 1
c. 1940s, 1990s?
box 3, item 1
US Military Dagger Item 1
c. 1940s
box 3, item 2
Ceremonial German Dagger (possibly Luftwaffe) Item 2
c. 1940s
box 3, item 3
German Gas Mask Fe-42 Item 3
c. 1942
box 3, item 4
Enlisted Man's German Belt and Belt Buckle with "Gott Mit Uns" engraved on it Item 4
c. 1940s
box 3, item 5
German Maps Porfolio Item 5
c. 1940s
box 3, item 6
German Officer's Leather Map Case with Ruler Item 6
c. 1940s
box 3, item 7
Two Leather D Ring Belt Loop Straps Item 7
box 3, item 8
Piece of Camouflage (torn) Item 8
box 3, item 9
Cloth-backed German map (karte: 647) Item 9
c. 1940s
