| Leonhard Schmidt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 December 1916 |
| Died | 12 August 2006 (aged 89) |
| Place of birth | Weißenstadt |
| Place of death | Marktredwitz |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1937–1945 |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit | Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 |
| Commands held | II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Leonhard Schmidt (9 December 1916 – 12 August 2006) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. 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 recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Awards and decorations[]
- Fallschirmschützenabzeichen (29 May 1938)[1]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Narvik Shield (1 March 1941)[1]
- Wound Badge (1939)
- in Black (15 July 1941)[1]
- Eastern Front Medal
- Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe (1 October 1942)[1]
- Cuff title "Kreta" (20 May 1943)[1]
- German Cross in Gold (24 June 1943)
- Close Combat Clasp (Luftwaffe) in Bronze (1 April 1945)[1]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 April 1945 as Hauptmann and battalion leader in the II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4[2][Note 1]
Notes[]
- ↑ No evidence of the award can be found in the German National Archives. The award was unlawfully presented by the commanding general of the I Parachute Corps, General der Fallschirmtruppe Richard Heidrich.[3]
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knights of the Wehrmacht Knight's Cross Holders of the Fallschirmjäger. Schiffer Military. ISBN 0-88740-749-8.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz and Wegmann, Günter (1986). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil II: Fallschirmjäger (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-1461-6.
