[2] Fritz Neidholdt was born on 16 November 1887 in the small town of Sankt Kilian near Schleusingen, located at the southern end of the Thuringian Forest central-eastern Germany, his father was a Protestant pastor.

[3] After graduating from primary and secondary school, Neidholdt joined the Royal Prussian Army (Königlich Preussische Heer) on 30 August 1907 as a cadet (Fahnenjunker).

[3] On 1 October 1942, Neidholdt was promoted to major general and appointed commander of the new 369th (Croatian) Infantry Division, a legionary unit composed of volunteers from the Independent State of Croatia under German cadres, based in Yugoslavia.

Under Fritz Neidholdt's command the division took part in Case White (also known as the Fourth Axis Offensive) in northern Bosnia[8] where, inexperienced in guerrilla warfare, it became notorious for its extreme brutality.

[3] On 11 September 1944, under Fritz Neidholdt direct orders, the 369th division destroyed the villages of Zagniezde (Zagnježđe) and Udora (near Bjelojevići, Burmazi and Stolac), hanging all the men and driving away all the women and children.