Born in Dresden in 1894, Frölich joined the army of Imperial Germany in 1914, upon the outbreak of World War I. He served in the artillery and was commissioned a "leutnant" (second lieutenant) the following year.
Born in Dresden on 3 June 1894, Frölich joined the army of Imperial Germany in 1914, upon the outbreak of World War I, as a "fahnenjunker" (officer cadet). Posted to the 49th Field Artillery Regiment, he was commissioned a "leutnant" (second lieutenant) the following year.