Gustav Schmidt (general)

Gustav Schmidt
Birth nameGustav Richard Ernst Schmidt
Born(1894-04-24)24 April 1894
Died7 August 1943(1943-08-07) (aged 49)
Between Beresowka and Belgorod near Kursk, Soviet Union
Allegiance Kingdom of Prussia
German Empire
Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany
Branch Prussian Army
 Imperial German Army
Freikorps (Grenzschutz Ost)
 Reichsheer
 German Army
Service years1913–1943
RankGeneralleutnant
Commands74th Infantry Regiment
19th Rifle Brigade
19th Panzer Division
ConflictsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Relations∞ 1919 Maria Mayer; 1 son
Johannes Mayer (brother in law)

Gustav Richard Ernst Schmidt (24 April 1894  – 7 August 1943) was a German career officer, finally general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Death

Most post-war sources state, Schmidt committed suicide on 7 August 1943 to avoid capture by the Red Army in the course of the Soviet Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive Operation (it cannot be clearly determined whether this occurred before or after capture). According to the war diary of the 19th Panzer Division, however, he was killed in action during the breakthrough from the Soviet encirclement.

Promotions

  • 10 February 1913 Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
    • joined the Infanterie-Regiment "Graf Tauentzien von Wittenberg" (3. Brandenburgisches) Nr. 20
  • 1 July 1913 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
  • 18 October 1913 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
  • 19 June 1914 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) with Patent from 23 June 1912
  • 16 September 1917 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
  • 1 July 1925 Hauptmann (Captain)
  • 1 May 1934 Major (29)
  • 2 October 1936 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with effect and Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 October 1936 (26)
  • 31 May 1939 Oberst (Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 June 1939 (23)
  • 12 April 1942 Generalmajor (Major General) with effect and RDA from 1 April 1942 (75b)
  • 21 January 1943 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) with effect and RDA from 1 January 1943 (59)

Awards and decorations

  • Pictures of Gustav Schmidt: 1922 and 1943

References

Citations

  1. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 412.
  2. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 310.
  3. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 59.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.