Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Zugführer, Panzer-Abteilung 67, 8. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

June 1st, 1940

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Zugführer, Panzer-Abteilung 67, 8. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

June 22nd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Zugführer, III. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 10, 8. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Kompanieführer, III. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 10, 8. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 24th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Führer, Stabskompanie, Panzer-Regiment 10, 8. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

August 12th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, 1. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 10, 8. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

August 29th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, 1. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 10, 8. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

September 16th, 1943

On the 27.08.1943 the Soviets continued their attack on the positions of the 251. Infanterie-Division (which were located west of Sswesk). The frontline of this unit was broken up and pushed back to Knjaginino. In response the 1./Panzer-Regiment 10 under the command of Hauptmann Schmidt entered the battle, and by 9:30 it had destroyed 13 out of about 50 attacking Soviet tanks.

Later, as the Soviets occupied Knjaginino, the Kompanie would stand alone in the midst of the fleeing German infantry. Hauptmann Schmidt himself wrote the following account of what happened next…

“In light of our outstanding slope position, the order to fire was given when the enemy was at a range of 800-900 metres. The first salvo from our 9 Panzers achieved 6 hits! The Russians were dumfounded and unsure of where they had been attacked from, and they therefore began to turn around. But this only meant that our fire would be even more effective against the side armour of the T-34 and 52 ton KV-2 tanks…

An infantry officer beside my Panzer spotted newly appearing tank targets for my gunner, Unteroffizier Blass…

Unteroffizier Blass was able to nock up 6 tank kills…

I must give particular attention to the left group of a Leutnant. He had the additional mission of holding open the corduroy road, and even though it was his first battle he proved up to the task of carrying out this security mission with his group. By around 11:00 the Russians’ brigade-strength armoured attack had been completely crushed.”

The 9 Panzers of Hauptmann Schmidt destroyed 35 T-34s and 2 KV-2s during this latter engagement, all without any friendly losses. The Germans later confirmed that, out of 50 claimed tanks destroyed, the Kompanie had destroyed 38 T-34 tanks and 4 KV-2s (though it’s quite likely this actually refers to KV-1s) on this day.

Hauptmann Schmidt was later awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions on this day.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, 1. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 10, 8. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 21st, 1943

According to the "beurteilung", the awarding took place on October 23rd.