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Schulz, Karl Friedrich "Fritz" Wilhelm

    Date of birth:
    October 15th, 1897 (Nettkow/Landkreis Grünberg/Silesia, Poland)
    Date of death:
    November 30th, 1976 (Freudenstadt/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
    Nationality:
    German

    Biography

    Promotions:
    26th June 1916: Leutnant (promoted on 9th August 1916);
    1st October 1919: Leutnant (effective from 1st October 1915);
    1st August 1925: Oberleutnant (effective from 1st April 1925);
    1st November 1931: Hauptmann;
    1st January 1936: Major;
    1st February 1939 Oberstleutnant (effective from 1st February 1938);
    1st April 1941: Oberst;
    1st July 1942: Generalmajor;
    1st July 1943: Generalleutnant;
    1st April 1944: General der Infanterie;

    Career:
    19th September 1914: Entered service as Kriegsfreiwilliger and was assigned to IR von der Goltz (7. Pommersches) Nr. 54 as Fahnenjunker;
    26th June 1916: Leutnant in (3. Posensches) IR Nr. 58;
    Grenzschutz Schlesien in 6. / Infanterie-Regiment 8, Glogau and later with the Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 8;
    11th March - 16th March 1919: Wehrkreisprüfung;
    1st October 1920: Infanterie-Regiment 8;
    1st October 1926: Adjutant III. / Infanterie-Regiment 8, Görlitz;
    1st October 1930: Führergehilfenausbildung;
    1932: Stab 4.Division, Dresden;
    1st September 1933: Generalstab, RWM;
    1st October 1934: Kompanie-Chef Infanterie-Reigment 30;
    15th October 1935: Ia 23.Infanterie-Division;
    1st October 1937 - 20th April 1940: Stab Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, Gruppenleiter II (Organisation) / Abteilung L / Wehrmachtführungsamt;
    20th April 1940 - 24th April 1942: Chef des Generalstabes, XXXXIII.Armee-Korps;
    12th May 1942 - 21th November 1942: Chef des Generalstabes, 11.Armee;
    21sh November 1942 - 12th February 1943: Chef des Generalstabes, Heeresgruppe Don;
    12th february 1943 - 1st March 1943: Chef des Generalstabs der Heeresgruppe Süd;
    1st May 1943 - 1st December 1943: Kommandeur 28.Jäger-Division;
    28th November 1943 - 1st January 1944: Kommandierender General (m.d.F.b.) III.Panzer-Korps;
    8th February 1944 - 21nd March 1944: Kommandierender General LIX.Armee-Korps;
    22nd March 1944 - 3rd July 1944: Kommandierender General (m.d.F.b. until 31st March 1944, then permanent from 1st April 1944) XXXXVI.Panzer-Korps;
    25th July 1944 - 25th March 1945: Oberbefehlshaber 17.Armee;
    5th April 1945 - 29th April 1945: Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgrupe G;
    29th April 1945: send to Italy bu Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring;
    30th April 1945: Oberbefehlshaber Südwest;
    3rd May 1945 - 5th May 1945: Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe G;
    6th May 1945 - 1946: Prisoner of War U.S. Army.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Hauptmann (Captain)
    Awarded on:
    1934
    Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
    Unit:
    Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW)
    Awarded on:
    April 6th, 1940

    Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 2nd June 1916.
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
    Unit:
    Chef des Generalstabes XXXXIII.Armeekorps
    Awarded on:
    June 14th, 1940

    Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 27th January 1918.
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberst im Generalstab (Colonel to the General Staff)
    Unit:
    Chef des Generalstabes XXXXIII.Armeekorps
    Awarded on:
    March 29th, 1942
    Awarded for crushing several Soviet penetration attempts near Kaluga during the winter of 1941/1942.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generalleutnant (Major-general)
    Unit:
    Kommandierender General (mit der Führung beauftragt) III.Panzerkorps
    Awarded on:
    March 20th, 1944
    Awarded for his masterful leadership of the III. Panzer-Korps during its battles near Cherkassy in late 1943 (28.11.1943-01.01.1944).

    428th award.
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
    Unit:
    Oberbefehlshaber 17.Armee
    Awarded on:
    February 26th, 1945
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
    Awarded for his Armee’s defense of the Upper Silesian industrial region in February 1945. Following the Soviet breakthrough at Liegnitz, Schulz was eventually able to halt their advance and form a new defensive front upon which many Soviet attacks were broken with heavy losses. Schulz himself proved a capable and energetic leader during this time, inspiring his men through personal example.

    135th Award.

    Sources

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