Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

I. / Infanterie-Regiment 411

Awarded on:

September 26th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur II. / Infanterie-Regiment 411 / 122Infanterie-Division "Greif"

Awarded on:

November 6th, 1942

The following newspaper article (dated 15.03.1943) describes why Schmidt was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Fallen at the head of his Pomeranians:

Major Burkhardt Schmidt, Bataillon commander in a Pomeranian Grenadier-Regiment, died a hero’s death in the fighting south of Lake Ilmen on the 28.02.1943. Major Schmidt had previously distinguished himself above all in the fighting to expand the land corridor to Fortress Demyansk. Due to an assault troop being unable to reach its ordered attack objective, he launched an attack of his own at the head of his Bataillon. He blocked the enemy’s supply road and, over the course of bitter night fighting, went on to hold off the Bolshevik forces that attacked from all sides. On a different day he stormed a village that was being fiercely defended by a numerically superior enemy, pressed on as far as the nearby river and thereby laid the groundwork for a great offensive success in this sector.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)