He served on SMS Hertha during his cadetship and graduated from the Naval Academy at Mürwik.

On 7 March 1918 he became an aide-de-camp to the commander of the torpedo boats, in which position he ended the war.

Fricke then was posted as chief of staff to the inspectorate of destroyer and mine-warfare in the rank of Kapitän zur See (captain at sea) (1935).

After this academic posting, Fricke served on the Oberkommando der Marine as Chief of the Operations department of the Seekriegsleitung (Naval War Staff).

Promoted to Admiral on 1 April 1942, Fricke was named commander of the Marinegruppenkommando Süd (21 March 1943 – 11 December 1944).