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Schulz, Adelbert

    Date of birth:
    December 20th, 1903 (Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany)
    Date of death:
    January 28th, 1944 (Shepetovka/Khmelnitsky Oblast, Soviet Union)
    Nationality:
    German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

    Biography

    Adelbert Schulz was born on December 20th, 1903 as the son of a civil worker. At first he studied for a career to be banking director, but in 1925 he changed his career to the Polizei. He transferred to the Wehrmacht on October 1st, 1935.

    According to several sources his first name is written as Adelbert. The Volksbund however has him in their database as Adalbert.

    Promotions:
    December 20th, 1925: Polizeianwärter;
    1927: Polizeiwachtmeister;
    April 20th, 1934: Polizeileutnant;
    October 1st, 1935: Oberleutnant;
    1940: Hauptmann;
    January 1st, 1942: Major;
    January 1943: Oberstleutnant;
    November 1st, 1943: Oberst;
    January 1st, 1944: Generalmajor;

    Career:
    ?: Berliner Realgymnasium;
    ?: Bankangestellter;
    1923 - 1924: Hanselshochschule;
    December 20th, 1925: Preußischen Kasernierten Landespolizei;
    December 1925 - 1927: Polizeischule Brandenburg;
    October 1st, 1935: Wehrmacht;
    October 12th, 1937: Chef 1. Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 25;
    ?: Chef I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 25;
    June 6th, 1940: Kommandeur I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 25;
    March 5th, 1943: Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 25;
    January 1st, 1944 - January 26th, 1944: Urlaub;
    January 26th, 1944 - January 28th, 1944: Kommandeur 7. Panzer-Division (appointed January 1st, 1944).

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Hauptmann (Captain)
    Unit:
    1. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 25, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    May 24th, 1940
    Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Hauptmann (Captain)
    Unit:
    1. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 25, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    May 29th, 1940
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Hauptmann (Captain)
    Unit:
    Chef, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 25, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    September 29th, 1940
    Hauptmann Schulz led a company, and later a full battalion, of Panzers over a total of 17 armoured attacks during the Western campaign, where he showed himself to be a fine commander of armour. Over the course of the campaign he particularly distinguished himself on 14.05.1940 during the heavy fighting in the Dinant bridgehead, and later on 23.05.1940 where he helped resolve a critical combat situation near Hersin.

    226th Heer Award.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Hauptmann (Captain)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 25, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    December 31st, 1941
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
    Awarded for distinguishing himself near Klin during the winter of 1941/1942. Despite having only a handful of operational tanks, being outnumbered 8-1 and having to contend with -40 Celsius weather, he nevertheless was able to successfully cover the retreat of friendly German forces. These included a full field hospital with over 4000 wounded men.

    47th Award.
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, Panzer-Regiment 25, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    August 6th, 1943
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
    On 11.07.1943, during the attack of the 7. Panzer-Division in the southern sector of the battle of Kursk, Schulz was able to conduct a successful armoured breakthrough south of Scheino. Smashing through Soviet fieldworks, and in spite of enemy probes on all sides, he launched an armoured pursuit with his Kampfgruppe and was able to catch a foot-bound Soviet group in the process of withdrawing. Schulz's men were able to capture almost 600 prisoners, 83 cannons and over 100 heavy machine guns and mortars.

    In addition to this notable success, Schulz and his regiment were also able to destroy a total of 76 enemy tanks over the course of 11 days of battle in the attempted attack towards Kursk. In recognition of these achievements, Schulz would receive the Swords to his Knight's Cross.

    33rd Award.
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberst (Colonel)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, Panzer-Regiment 25, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    December 14th, 1943
    Ritterkreuz, Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten
    Awarded for the distinguished command of his Panzer-Regiment during the fluid battles around Kiev and Zhitomir in October/November 1943.

    9th Award.
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generalmajor (Brigadier)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    January 30th, 1944
    Wehrmachtbericht
    Mentioning:
    "The commander of an armoured division major general Schulz, who received the highest award for bravery from the Führer a few days ago, found at the head of his division a heroic death in this combat. With him the army loses one of his best officers, the armoured force an exemplary commander."
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)

    Silver version.
    Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)

    Sources

    Photo