- Adelbert Schulz
Infobox Military Person
name=Adelbert Schulz
born=birth date|1903|12|20|df=y
died=death date and age|1944|1|28|1903|12|20|df=y
caption=Adelbert Schulz
placeofbirth=Berlin
placeofdeath=Shepetivka
allegiance=Germany
rank=Generalmajor
battles=World War II
awards=Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and DiamondsAdelbert Schulz (
20 December 1903 –28 January 1944 ) was a generalmajor and division commander in the German Wehrmacht during thesecond world war . He was one of only 27 people to be awarded the Knights Cross with oakleaves, swords, and diamonds and one of the youngest German generals.Early life
Adelbert Schulz graduated from high school in
Berlin and worked in a bank. From 1923 to 1924 he went to college and became a police officer a year later. In 1934 he joined the German Army as a second lieutenant and in 1935 was promoted to first lieutenant.World War II
He took part in the occupations of
Austria and theSudetenland . During the western campaign and in 1940 was promoted to captain. He participated in the invasion of Belgium, attacks on French and British positions and assisted in the breakthrough toCherbourg , serving under GeneralErwin Rommel . On the 29 September 1940 he received theKnight's Cross .As part of Army Group Centre, in Klin, Schulz attacked a
Soviet force eight times larger than his own. Despite being outnumbered he covered the retreat of German troops and the evacuation of afield hospital with more than 4,000 wounded. For these actions he was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross on 31 December 1941. On 6 August 1943 he received the Swords to his Knight's Cross and was promoted to colonel.On the 14th of December Schulz received a radio message that he would receive the Diamonds to the Ritterkreuz, and was told to report to the Führer's headquarters. Schulz refused to go on the grounds that he was too busy fighting on the eastern front and had no time to receive it. The honor was eventually awarded to him on 9 January 1944 and he was promoted to major general and made division commander in charge of Rommel's former division.
A short time later Adelbert Schulz was killed by an artillery shell.
Legacy
Today a German Army barracks in Munster (Örtze) is named after Schulz.
References
* Berger, Florian, "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
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