Siddhesh Joshi (Editor)

Franz Schmitz

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Years of service
  
1938–45 1956–62

Service/branch
  
German Army

Name
  
Franz Schmitz

Franz Schmitz hriesopbeepworlddefilesfranzschmitzjpg
Born
  
12 October 1918 Bonn (
1918-10-12
)

Allegiance
  
Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany

Rank
  
Sanitats-Unteroffizier (Wehrmacht) Oberstabsfeldwebel (Bundeswehr)

Unit
  
279th Grenadier Regiment

Battles/wars
  
World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kiev (1941) Operation Veritable

Died
  
June 10, 1985, Inden, Germany

Awards
  
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Battles and wars
  
Invasion of Poland, Battle of France, Operation Barbarossa, Battle of Kiev, Operation Veritable, World War II

Franz Schmitz (12 October 1918 – 10 June 1985) was a highly decorated German Sanitats-Unteroffizier in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberstabsfeldwebel in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He is remembered especially for his medical care and rescue of wounded German soldiers (roughly 2,000), along with his care for wounded Russian soldiers isolated on the battlefield. Franz Schmitz joined the Bundeswehr in 1956 and served until 1962.

Awards

  • Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class (20 September 1941)
  • Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold (11 March 1945)
  • Infantry Assault Badge (20 September 1941)
  • Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
  • in Silver
  • Eastern Front Medal
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 September 1943 as Sanitats-Unteroffizier and group leader in the 3. / Grenadier-Regiment 279

    • References

    Franz Schmitz Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA