Rudolf Schmidt (Major)
Rudolf "Rudi" Schmidt (15 March 1914 – 23 February 2000) was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Rudolf "Rudi" Schmidt | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Rudi" |
| Born | 15 March 1914 Plauen |
| Died | 23 February 2000 (aged 85) Esslingen |
| Allegiance | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Weimar Republic (to 1933).svg.png.webp){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/ | Reichsmarine (1932–35) Kriegsmarine (1935–?) Luftwaffe (?–1945) |
| Years of service | 1932–45 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Jagdgruppe 88 Kampfgeschwader 26 |
| Commands held | II./Kampfgeschwader 26 |
| Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Despite being half Jewish, or Mischling under the Nuremberg Laws, Schmidt enlisted in the Luftwaffe and served with distinction.[1][2]
Awards and decorations
- Flugzeugführerabzeichen
- Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold (13 August 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 March 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 26[3]
References
Citations
- The Surreal Reich, By Joseph Howard Tyson, page 205
- Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military, Bryan Mark Rigg, page 39
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 310.
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.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links
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