The Frydag, including the Freytag-Loringhoven, family was an ancient Baltic German noble family of Westphalian origin, originating in Münster. They were first mentioned in the 12th century (Baron: Livonia, Courland 1198; Master of the Teutonic Order 1485, Gotha Register 1896, 1934 1942). He was born in Arensburg, Governorate of Livonia (now Kuressaare, Estonia) to Baron Burchard Haro Charles Napoleon Freytag von Loringhoven and Leonide Klara Oda von Möller. The family left their ancestorial home after Estonia proclaimed independence in 1918 and the German land titles and assets were confiscated. After one year of law studies at the University of Königsberg, he joined the Reichswehr in 1933. He was promoted to Leutnant in 1937.