Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major (Squadron Leader)

Unit:

Kommodore Stukageschwader 77

Awarded on:

July 21st, 1940

The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Schönborn-Wiesentheid received the Knight’s Cross…

“Major Graf Schönborn had already led his Stuka Gruppe with total success during the Polish campaign. Later, in the Western Campaign, his Gruppe found itself involved in the battles for Maastricht, Antwerp, Tirlemont and Löwen. Schönborn’s Gruppe had a particularly outstandingly share in the Stuka attacks against the fortifications at Lüttich and Namur. The Gruppe also smashed French armoured reserves during the breach of the Maginot Line near Sedan. Later, after being promoted to Geschwader Kommodore, the commander led his pilots with exemplary boldness during operations against the Dyle Position and in the attacks against Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk. Here the Geschwader sunk two large transports and a destroyer. Subsequent operations took place at St. Quentin, during the breakthrough of the Aisne Position, and against Compiegne and Soissons. In these latter stages the Geschwader also destroyed bridges in order to hinder enemy retreat movements (the destruction of the Seine bridge at Romilly was an especially noteworthy instance of this).”