Adelbert Schulz (20 December 1903 – 28 January 1944) was a German officer of the police and the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

, at last general and division commander in the Panzertruppe during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He was one of only 27 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds of

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

Life

Adelbert (sometimes written ''Adalbert'') Schulz was born on 20 December 1903 in Berlin; he began his career in the police. In 1935 Schulz transferred from the Police to the German Army.Kurowski 2008, p. 22. Schulz's unit took part in the occupations of Austria and the

Sudetenland The Sudetenland ( , ; Czech and ) is a German name for the northern, southern, and western areas of former Czechoslovakia which were inhabited primarily by Sudeten Germans. These German speakers had predominated in the border districts of Bohe ...

. He participated in the

Battle of France The Battle of France (; 10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign (), the French Campaign (, ) and the Fall of France, during the Second World War was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembour ...

serving under General

Erwin Rommel Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel (; 15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944), popularly known as The Desert Fox (, ), was a German '' Generalfeldmarschall'' (field marshal) during World War II. He served in the ''Wehrmacht'' (armed forces) of ...

. On 29 September 1940 he received the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was order of precedence, lower in preceden ...

. 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 9 January 1944, he received Diamonds to his knights Cross, was promoted to

Generalmajor is the Germanic languages, Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central Europe, Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and R ...

and made commander of the 7th Panzer Division.

Death

Schulz was

wounded in action Wounded in action (WIA) describes combatants who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during wartime, but have not been killed. Typically, it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing ...

in the area of

Shepetivka Shepetivka (, ; ) is a List of cities in Ukraine, city located on the Huska River in Khmelnytskyi Oblast (Oblast, province) in western Ukraine. Shepetivka is the Capital (political), administrative center of Shepetivka Raion (Raion, district). ...

on 28 January 1944, and died the same day.

Awards

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

(1939) 2nd Class (24 May 1940) & 1st Class (24 May 1940)Kurowski 2008, p. 156. * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds ** Knight's Cross on 29 September 1940 as ''

Hauptmann () is an officer rank in the armies of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is usually translated as ''captain''. Background While in contemporary German means 'main', it also has, and originally had, the meaning of 'head', i.e. ' literall ...

'' and chief of the 1./Panzer-Regiment 25Scherzer 2007, p. 690. ** 47th Oak Leaves on 31 December 1941 as ''Hauptmann'' and commander of the I./Panzer-Regiment 25 ** 33rd Swords on 6 August 1943 as ''

Oberstleutnant () (English: Lieutenant Colonel) is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to lieutenant colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, ...

'' and commander of the Panzer-Regiment 25 ** 9th Diamonds on 14 December 1943 as ''

Oberst ''Oberst'' () is a senior field officer rank in several German language, German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the Army, ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, a ...

'' and commander of the Panzer-Regiment 25'

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * Kurowski, Franz (2008). ''Generalmajor Adelbert Schulz Mit der 7. Panzerdivision in West und Ost'' (in German). Flechsig Verlag. . * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Schulz, Adelbert 1903 births 1944 deaths Military personnel from Berlin Major generals of the German Army (Wehrmacht) German Army generals of World War II German Army personnel killed in World War II German police officers Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds