Wilhelm Schmalz
German general and Knight's Cross recipient
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wilhelm Schmalz (1 March 1901 – 14 March 1983) was a German general (Generalleutnant) in the Wehrmacht during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Schmalz surrendered to American troops in May 1945.
Wilhelm Schmalz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1 March 1901 |
| Died | 14 March 1983 (aged 82) |
| Allegiance |  Weimar Republic  Nazi Germany |
Branch | Army Luftwaffe |
Rank | Generalleutnant |
| Commands | Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring |
Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Schmalz was tried and acquitted of war crimes by a court in Rome on 12 July 1950. This included the Civitella in Val di Chiana massacre on 29 June 1944 where 146 civilians were murdered by soldiers of the Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring.[1]
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (14 September 1939) & 1st Class (16 October 1939)[2]
- German Cross in Gold on 8 February 1942 as Major in Kradschützen-Bataillon 59[3]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
