Adelbert Schulz

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Adelbert Schulz (1900 - 28 January 1944) was a generalmajor and division commander in the German Wehrmacht in WWII. He was one of only 27 people to be awarded the Knights Cross with oakleaves, swords, and diamonds and one of the youngest German generals.

[edit] Early life

Adelbert Schulz graduated from high school in Berlin and worked in a bank. From 1923 to 1924 he went to college and became a police officer a year later. In 1934 he joined the German Army as a second lieutenant and in 1935 was promoted to first lieutenant. He took part in the occupations of Austria and the Sudetenland. He took part in the western campaign and in 1940 was made a captain. He participated in the invasion of Belgium, attacks on French and British positions and assisted in the breakthrough to Cherbourg, serving under General Erwin Rommel. On the 29 September 1940 he received the Knight's Cross. As part of Army Group Centre, in Klin, Schulz attacked a Soviet force eight times larger than his own. Despite being outnumbered he covered the retreat of German troops and the evacuation of a field hospital with more than 4,000 wounded. For these actions he was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross on 31 December 1941. On 6 August 1943 he received the Swords to the Knight's Cross and was promoted to colonel. On the 14th of December Schulz received a radio message that he would receive the Diamonds to the Ritterkreuz, and was told to report to the Führer's headquarters. Schulz refused to go on the grounds that he was too busy fighting on the eastern front and had no time to go receive it. The honor was eventually awarded to him on 9 January 1944 and he was promoted to major general and division commander. He was then placed in charge of Rommel's former division. A short time later Adelbert Schulz was killed by an artillery shell.