| Franz Schmitz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 October 1918 |
| Died | 10 June 1985 (aged 66) |
| Place of birth | Bonn |
| Place of death | Inden |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service |
1938–1945 1956–1962 |
| Rank |
Sanitäts-Unteroffizier (Wehrmacht) Oberstabsfeldwebel (Bundeswehr) |
| Unit | 279th Grenadier Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Franz Schmitz (12 October 1918 – 10 June 1985) was a highly decorated German Sanitäts-Unteroffizier in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberstabsfeldwebel in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He is remembered especially for his medical care and rescue of wounded German soldiers (roughly 2,000), along with his care for wounded Russian soldiers isolated on the battlefield. Franz Schmitz joined the Bundeswehr in 1956 and served until 1962.
Awards[]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class (20 September 1941)
- Wound Badge (1939)
- in Black
- in Silver
- in Gold (11 March 1945)
- Infantry Assault Badge (20 September 1941)
- Close Combat Clasp
- in Bronze
- in Silver
- Eastern Front Medal
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 September 1943 as Sanitäts-Unteroffizier and group leader in the 3. / Grenadier-Regiment 279 [1]
References[]
- Citations
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 314.
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Kurowski, Franz. 2005."Infantry Aces:The German Soldier in Combat in WWII". Mechanicsburg PA, USA.StackPole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3202-4
External links[]
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