Schmid, Lorenz

Date of birth:: April 3rd, 1923 (St. Martin/Voitsberg, Austria)
Date of death:: January 1st, 2003 (Ardning/Stift Admont, Austria)
Nationality:: Austrian (1938-1945, Reichsgau)

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Obergefreiter (Corporal)
Unit:: Kompanie Truppführer, 8. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100, 5. Gebirgs-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: November 29th, 1944

Awarded for his actions around La Pietra, as described in the following press excerpt…

“During a breakthrough by enemy tanks, Lorenz Schmied (along with three of his comrades) launched a bold counterattack against an enemy tank and two reinforcing platoons of Englishmen despite being severely injured himself. Hey and his comrades were able to smash this enemy thrust.”

This action took place during the fighting along the Adriatic front. The British had succeeded in breaking through the lines of Schmid’s Regiment with 5 tanks. Obergefreiter Lorenz Schmied was thus ordered to bring up Panzerfausts and a machine-pistol to a threatened friendly Zug. Along the way he encountered an Allied tank that had penetrated the defenses. Despite the lack of cover he attacked the tank with a Panzerfaust, but missed due to his unfavourable position. In the process he was burned severely on his side, all the way to the bone. At this point two platoons of escorting British infantry burst out of the ravine to enter the battle. Despite his severe injury, Schmied along with 3 comrades began a counterattack with Panzerfausts and hand grenades, and despite the odds they were able to drive the Allies off. Afterwards Schmied would collapse unconscious due to the pain.